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f 



THE HISTORY 
OF CAROLINE COUNTY 




FEINTED BY 

The J. W. Stowell Printing Co. 

FEDERALSBURG, MD. 



HISTORY 

OF 

CAROLINE COUNTY 

MARYLAND 
FROM ITS BEGINNING 



Material Largely Contributed by the Teachers 
and Children of the County 



Revised and Supplemented by 



Laura C. Cochrane 

Lavinia R. Grouse 

Mrs. Wilsie S, Gibson 

A. May Thompson 

Edward M. Noble 



Of the Caroline County Schools 



h iS7 



•p 



H47 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

FEB241921 

DOCUMENTS DIVISION 



To the Teachers and hundreds of Pupils 
in the schools of Caroline County who 
willingly secured data which is herein 
presented this volume is respectfully 
dedicated. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The colli iiiiial iuhmI of the children, teachers, and 
officers of oiu- public scliools liaviiig" some historical data 
conceniiiiu' llie lioiiie county of Caroline has led to the 
])n))lishiii,ii' of tliis l)ook which is here presented to tlie 
pnblic. 

The constant neglect of a citiy.eiislii]) to compile 
facts concerniiii;' its growtli and history must inevitably 
lead to an almost total ignorance of the same and snbse- 
([uently to a lack of ap])reciation of the local lieroes. 

Having read of the struggles of the colonial troops 
during the Revolutionary AVar, how many of us are con- 
scious of the fact that our county then only in its infancy 
furnished not only its quota of soldiers and sui)plies, but 
the leader of tlie troo]^s of the Eastern Shore — (Jolonel 
"William Richardson? 

Have we fully realizetl that the immortal Declara- 
tion of lnde])endence was made possible by just such as- 
semblages of (U'termined citizens as the one held in this 
county in June 1774? 

Has it ever occurred to us that our county furnished 
one subject of the cause for tlie War of 1812 — the im- 
pressment of American Seamen? 

Generally may it 1k' said that Caroline's worthies 
of tlie )»ast and present have held and still hohl an hon- 
ored ])lace among the leaders of the State. To give due 
credit to these is one valid reason for such a volume. 
Perhai)«, a more important reason, however, for such an 
effort is the necessity of the ]mihls in our schools ac- 
quiring a fundamental knowledge of the organization 
and earlier history of our county (1) to teach an appre- 
ciation of home and local environments and (2) to fur- 
nish a proper basis for state and national history. 

Assuredly, Caroline County has a rich liackground 
which adds dignity to the ])resent, for out of the early 
days step stately personages who a<ld chai'm to every 
scene; stirring events that warm the blood; and s]K)ts 
hallowed by tiie acts of brave ones; yes. changing per- 
sons and events — moving pictures so to s])eak. 

In the "History of Caroline Countv" an attem|)t 
has been made to record in simple form tlu> substance of 
facts gleaned from reliable sources by the ])upils, teach- 
ers, and officials of the ]mblic schools tlirongh talks with 

xi 



the older residents, eoiiiity officials, by means of old 
manuscripts, deeds, wills, newspapers, clmrcli and court 
records, and from tlie several volnmes of history and 
novels pertaining to onr county and state. 

Our appreciation is here extended to those princi- 
pals, teachers, and children of onr schools who have con- 
tributed material as well as to that large host of parents 
and friends who have answered the questions of children 
from day to day with such uniform courtesy and coop- 
eration. Especiallv are our thanks due to Capt. Chas. 
W. Wright, Edward T. Tubbs, Zebdial P. Steele, J. 
Kemp Stevens, James E. Hignutt, officials of the Clerk's 
office, and others who either through personal knowledge, 
memory, data or help of records aided us greatly in this 
publication. 

To the Editors of the County newspapers — Greens- 
boro Enterprise, Denton Journal, American Union, 
Federalshurr/ Courier and Caroline Sun, as well as to 
Swepson Earle, author of the Colonial Eastern Shore, 
we desire to acknowledge our gratitude for the use of 
valuable engravings and etchings loaned us. 

While conscious of the laborious efforts and pains- 
taking care bestowed, we fully realize that a work, so 
largely one of original research, is inevitably not with- 
out imperfections and some errors. In submitting it, 
therefore, to the public, it is with the hope that generous 
readers will ap])reciate the difficulties attending the un- 
dertaking and will accord consideration and justice to 
the motive which has animated this liumble trilbute. 

Edward M. Noble. 

Denton, Marvland, October 10, 1920. 



Xll 



SOURCES AND REFERENCES 

Consulted in the Preparation of 
TEE IIISTOBY OF CABOLINE COUNTY. 



Public Records: 

Congressional Library, Maiyland State Library, 
Maryland Land Record Office, Maryland Historical So- 
ciety, Enoch Pratt Library, Peabody Library, Land and 
Will Records of Caroline County, Land and Will Rec- 
ords of Dorchester County, Land and Will Records of 
Talbot County, Records of Bethesda Church, Preston; 
Tennessee Historical Society, Third Haven Meeting, 
Easton. 

Newspapers : 

MaiyUuul Gazette, Annapolis; Easton (Md.) Ga- 
zette; Denton Journal; American Union, Denton; The 
Pearl, Denton. 

Books and Pamphlets : 

American Archives, Washington ; Maryland Ar- 
chives; History of Maryland Conventions 1774-1776; 
Senate and House Journals, Annapolis ; Atlas Landhold- 
ers Assistant; McSherry's History of Maryland; Mak- 
ers of Methodism; Asbury's Journal; Hanson's History 
of Kent County; Tilgiiman's History of Tall)ot County; 
Earle's Colonial Eastern Shore; Wright's History of 
the Wright Family; Federal Census of 1790; The Tory 
Maid; Maryland Historical Magazine; Maryland in 
Prose and Poetrv. 



xiu 




XIV 



CONTENTS. 

Page 

1. Formation of Caroline County 1 

2. Organization of tlie County 3 

3. Caroline County Courts 7 

4. The Hundred — Election Districts 18 

5. Land Grants 23 

6. The Mason and Dixon Line 25 

7. Roads, Ferries, Bridges, Fences and Gates 2S 

8. Indians of the Eastern Shore 33 

9. When Indians Lived in Our Land 41 

10. Foreword to the Trial of Poh Poh Caquis 4 5 

11. Erection of the Court House and Jail 50 

12. Revolutionary Period 54 

13. Carolines .Military Activities 70 

14. Colonel William Richardson 7 6 

15. Colonel William Whiteley 80 

16. Matthew Driver 82 

17. The Potters of Potters Landing 85 

IS. Life in Caroline Following the Revolution 88 

19. Early Brick Dwellings in Caroline 94 

20. The Hughletts 100 

21. William Frazier — Methodist Organizer 103 

22. Early Churches and Societies 105 

23. Caroline County Almshouses 120 

24. When Tobacco was King 123 

25. The Duel Between Dickinson and Jackson 126 

26. War of 1812 129 

2 7. Captain Joseph Richardson 133 

28. Thomas Culbreth 134 

29. Early Postal Service 137 

30. The Plantation 139 

31. Slavery 141 

32. An Old Time Maryhind School (1S38) 152 

XV 



33. The Public Schools 1^6 

34. Early Factories 165 

35. The e i\ il War 168 

36. .Marydel Vicinity 175 

Tiie .Marydel Duel, Edinburgh 

3 7. Henderson Locality 181 

38. Goldsboro (Old Townj 187 

Bridgetown, Bee Tree, Barcus 

3ti. Moore's 191 

40. Greensboro (Choptank Bridge) 194 

Whiteley's and Lowe's 

41. Burrsville (Punch Hall, Union Corner) 21S 

Central, Camp Grove 

42. Denton (Pig Point, Edenton) 224 

Carey's, Oaks, Willougnby's. Andersontown, 
Liden's, Hickman, Williston, Williamson's, 
The Bureau 

4 3. Harmony ( Fowling Creek) 251 

Grove, Laurel Grove, Friendship 

44. Preston (Snow Hill) 256 

Linchester, Choptank 

45. Bethlehem 263 

Smithson, Hubbard's 

4 6. Federalsburg (North West Fork Bridge) 267 

Hickory Hill, Nichols, Houston's Branch 

4 7. Concord 281 

Howard's, American Corners 

48. Smithville and Community 284 

Chestnut Grove, Nabb's 

49. Hillsboro (Tuckahoe Bridge) 289 

Thawley's, Tuckahoe Neck 

50. Ridgely 289 

Furman's Grove, The Plains 

51. Spanish-American War 314 

52. County Newspapers 316 

53. The World War 320 

54. The Floods of 1919 347 



XVI 



FORMATION OF CAROLINE COUNTY. 



Up until 1774 there was no Caroline County. The 
land where we now live belonged to Dorchester and 
Queen Anne's counties. Large tracts were uncleared 
and roads poor. When people living here had business 
at court, they had to make a long, rough journey either 
to Cambridge or Queenstown. Far-seeing men decided 
to petition the General Assembly of the province to make 
a new county out of parts of Dorchester and (j)ueen 
Anne's, which they felt would result in a more rapid 
development of this section as well as ])rove a great 
personal convenience. 

The petition was granted (in 1774) creating the new 
county and giving to it the name of Caroline. This was 
in honor of Caroline Eden, a sister of Frederick Cal- 
vert, the last Lord Baltimore, and wife of Sir Robert 
Eden, then English governor of Maryland. 

The same Assembly provided that the new county 
be divided into hundreds. This was an English term 
for wliat we would call districts. A map given else- 
where in this history shows these divisions and you can 
readily find in which of the original hundreds you live. 

The Assembly also appointed seven commissioners 
for Caroline county, namely: Charles Dickinson, Ben- 
son Stainton, Thomas White, William Haskins, Richard 
Mason, Joshua Clark, and Nathaniel Potter. These men 
were to buy four acres of land at Pig Point (now Den- 
ton) have it surveyed and recorded in the county rec- 
ords. Upon this land the court house and jail were to be 
built. 

In the meanwhile, court was to be held at Melvill's 
Warehouse. This was a small settlement about a mile 
and a half above Pig Point, consisting of a tobacco ware- 
house, wharf, store, and a few houses. Elections were 
to be held there as well as other business transactions. 
As a result MelvilPs Landing, the temporary county- 
seat, became a place of considerable importance in the 
early history of Caroline. A prominent man at the 
Landing was James Barwick, who kept the inn, was 
jailor, provided the necessary rooms for court use, and 
kept the ferry which ran from Melvill's Warehouse to 
the causeway'opposite. An old store house belonging to 
Edward Lloyd of Talbot was rented for a jail. It was 

—1— 



evidently not in good condition, for the court ordered it 
])nt in better reyjair by placing logs under the sills and 
that these logs be sunk in the ground. The warehouse 
was a more substantial brick structure built previous to 
1763 situated a little back from the river. Here the 
great hogsheads of tobacco were received from planters, 
weighed, stamped and stored for shipment. 

The first session of court was held March 15, 1774 
at Melvill's Warehouse. It continued being held there 
twice a year in March and October until 1777, when 
Bridgetown (now Greensboro) succeeded in having it 
moved there. Later, however, it was decided for the con- 
venience of pul)lic Imsiness, Melvill's Warehouse being- 
most central, that court be held there as usual. Not- 
withstanding this fact, records prove that sessions were 
held at Bridgetown in August and November of '78 and 
June, October, and November of '79. 

Feeling was strong concerning the permanent loca- 
tion of the county-seat. The peo])le in the upper part of 
the county insisted upon Bridgetown, while those in the 
lower section were quite as insistent for Pig Point. In 
1785 a compromise was effected by the General Assembly 
authorizing the purchase of two acres of land at Mel- 
vill's Landing. Matthew Driver, the owner of the Brick 
House Farm which extended nearly to the Landing, 
promptly deeded the required amount' of land to the 
justices of the county to l3e used as a site for the court 
house and jail. All that happened Avithin the next five 
years regarding this compromise we do not know, but in 
1790, all the l)elongings of the county court were moved 
to Pig Point. A house was rented there, and used until 
the completion of the court house about 1797, for the 
court sessions. 



—2— 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 



/. Introduction. 

The early government of Maryland was modeled af- 
ter the Palatinate of Durham in England, with a few 
added "powers" which made the Governor scarcely less 
than a king. 

Of all the Colonial organs of government — The Hun- 
dred, tlie Manor etc. — the County had more functions 
and more powers than any other, especially in the execu- 
tive and judicial lines. 

11. Why Carolinef 

What was the need that led to the organization of 
Carolinef The inland sections of Dorchester and Queen 
Anne Counties had developed and were now rich and 
productive. Trade as well as population had increased 
and as a whole this section had become somewhat prom- 
inent in the respective counties much on account of the 
fertile soil in this inland section. 

Crime too had increased, due in a great degree to 
the cosmopolitan nature of a new and rapidly growing 
population. The carrying of prisoners from this section 
to Queenstown in Queen Anne County or Cambridge in 
Dorchester County naturally became a problem. With 
these points in view. — 

1 Needs of increased population, 

2 Needs of increased trade, 

3 Need for increased crime, 

a more central government began to be discussed. 

Then too because of distance and difficulties of trav- 
el in that day the right of suffrage was in a sense prac- 
tically denied many free-born citi^iens. 

Having in mind these needs of the people the colo- 
nists in tliis section presented a petition to the General 
Asseml)l\- of Maryland, which met at Annapolis, Nov. 
1773, praying that the riglit to organize a new County 
be granted them. 

Below is given the Act passed by this Assembly. 

"WHEREAS, a considerable body of the inhabitants of Dor- 
chester and Queen Anne's Counties, by their petition of this General 
Assembly, have prayed that an Act may be passed for the division 
of the said counties, and for erecting a new one out of the parts 

—3— 



thereof; And whereas it appears to this General Assembly, that 
tlie erecting of a new county out of such parts of Dorchester and 
Queen-Anne's will conduce greatly \o the ease and convenience of 
the people thereof: Be it therefore enacted, by the right honor- 
able, the Lord Proprietary by and with the advice and consent of 
the Governor and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and 
the authority of the same, that after the .Monday of the second 
Tuesday in March next such parts aforesaid two counties, Dor- 
chester and Queen-Anne's, as are contained within the bounds and 
limits following to wit: 

Beginning at a point on the north side of the mouth of Hunt- 
ing Creek in Dorchester County, and from thence running up and 
with the said Creek to the main road at James Murray's Mill, thence 
by that road by Saint Mary's Chapel Parish church to Northwest 
Fork Bridge, thence with the main road (that leads to Cannon's 
Ferry) to Nantieoke River, thence with said river to and with the 
exterior limits of Queen-Anne's County to intersect the main road 
that leads from Beaver-dam Causeway to Dovertown. in Kent Coun- 
ty upon Delaware, thence with the said road to Long Marsh, thence 
with said Marsh and stream of the branch of Tuckahoe Creek to 
Tuckahoe Bridge, thence with the said creek to Great Choptank 
River and with the said river to the first beginning at the month 
of Hunting Creek, shall be and is hereby erected in a new county 
by the name of Caroline County." 

The land approximately was as follows : From 
Queen Anne County that part of Caroline lying west of 
the Clioptank River. From Dorchester County that 
part of Caroline Countv lyino- east of the Choptank Riv- 
er with a somewhat indefinite boundary alona^ what is 
now the Delaware line. Of this section there was yet 
some question as to Marvland's valid title and probably 
for this reason the land was lars^ely uncleared. 

In addition to the two parts above c^iven Caroline 
has now a small portion of land — probably a few square 
rods — included within her boundaries that was in the 
early surveys a part of Tnlliot. 

III. Nauiiv.fl flip Count I/. 

The new county was named Caroline in honor of 
Caroline Calvert, sister of Frederick, last Lord Bal- 
timore, and wife of Robert Eden, last colonial governor 
of the Province of Maryland. 

IV. Completion of Orr/anization. 

While these enactments were all in 1773, the actual 
organization of the county did not take place until 1774 
at whicli time it was necessary to make some changes in 
the Eastern boundary line as laid out by Assembly in 
1773, owing to the fact that although a "map had been 
made and tlie "vistor" run by the surveyors completed 



yet the exact location of the "division" seemed indefi- 
nite in the minds of the le.s^islators. 

V. The Finances. 

The Assembly, too, in the Acts at time of organiza- 
tion secured to the county the greater part of the monies 
for a Court House. Besides authorizing assessments 
the following- was oi-dered by Assembly: 

• Some time prior to the organization of Caroline County tlie 
taxpayers of Dorcliester County were assessed for tlie purpose of 
constructing a Court House at Cambridge. Tlie taxpayers residing 
in that portion of Dorchester County which subsequently became a 
part of Caroline County, had been assessed in a similar manner, 
and paid to the commissioners of Dorchester County, 70,000 pounds 
of tobacco. 

When arrangements were made for organizing Caroline Coun- 
ty, the justices of Dorchester County were authorized to pay to the 
commissioners of Caroline County, 70.000 pounds of tobacco, this 
quantity to be credited to the taxpayers residing in that section of 
Caroline County which formerly was known as part of Dorchester 
County. The taxpayers of that section of Caroline County formerly 
a section of Queen-Anne's County, were assessed in proportion to 
the amount received from Dorchester County. This was to be 
placed to the credit of the previously mentioned former taxpayers 
of said section and to be used towards building the Court house 
and prison in Caroline." 

VI. Final Seal in p of Boundaries. 

The first difiiculty aliont boundaries has been men- 
tioned before — namely tlie Maryland-Delaware line. Be- 
side this, other chann'e^ were made in the line which sep- 
arates Caroline from Dorcliester. These changes were 
three in number and below we give them quoted from 
Wright. 

1 Alteration of 1793. 

"The first alteration took place in 1793, when John Smoot, 
Eccleston Brown, and Thomas Nichols of Dorchester County, with 
James Summers and Edwai'd Wright Sr. of Caroline County were 
authorized to have a new bridge constructed to span the North- 
west Fork River, about 150 yards or 19 14 perches below the site 
of the old bridge that had been washed away; they were also to 
have the road (that led from Hunting Creek Church to Cannon's 
Ferry) altered, to traverse across the new bridge and thus annex 
to Caroline Countv a stretch of land formerly in Dorchester Coun- 
ty." 

2 Alteration ol 1X7X. 

"The second and less important alteration was made during 
1S78, in the dividing line and road leading from Hynson to Feder- 
alsburg, and it was in reference to straightening the road for a 
short distance between the lands of William A. Noble and S. Frank 
Pool residing in the opposite adjoining counties. The expense in- 
curred in making this alteration was borne by these two enterpris- 
ing gentlemen." 

—5— 



3 Alteration of 1880. 

"The third and most important alteration of the boundary line 
occurred in IS SO. Early in that year each of the seventy voters of 
the section that was proposed for alteration, petitioned the General 
Assembly of Maryland, that vi^hereas Federalsburg standing upon 
the dividing line between Dorchester and Caroline County, hence 
causing divers difficulties; therefore the boundary line between 
these counties should be altered; beginning at a dividing line ap- 
proximately one and a half miles north-west of Federalsburg, be- 
tween the lands of Wm. H. Alburger and Mrs. Ann Noble; then 
with the same reversed through the lands of Robert McCrea, A. W. 
Flowers, and others, until the North-west fork of the Nanticoke 
River is reached then along the river to Miles' Run; along Miles' 
Run to the road leading from Johnson's Cross Roads to Fedjralr- 
burg." 

By this survey lands lying between the new and the 
old boundjiry became part of Caroline Comity. Then a 
census of all voters within this limit was taken. With 
one exception the voters were in favor of Alteration and 
as a final matter Caroline paid Dorchester $600 for the 
land. 



—6— 



CAROLINE COUNTY COURTS. 



/. Iniportaiice of Courts of that Day. 

As lias been mentioned the Palatinate of Durham 
was the model for Maryland government and accordin^;- 
ly much power was vested in the county unit — the court. 
The following list of court powers, of that day gives an 
idea of their jurisdiction. 

Coiut powers: 

1 To divide Counties into Hundreds. 

2 To appoint a constable once a year for eacli Hundred. 

3 To divide the county into liighway precincts. 

4 To appoint once a year an overseer for each highway pre- 
cinct. 

5 To hear and consider petitions for new higliways. 

6 To let contracts for keeping ferries. 

7 To let contracts for erection and repair of county build- 
ings. 

8 To appoint inspectors of weights and measures. (Later 
for toljacco. ) 

9 To provide county with standards of weights and measures. 

10 To require tobacco inspectors to render them accounts. 

11 To remove inspectors from office for misbehavior. 

12 To (through Justices) levy taxes. 

13 To exempt paupers from poll tax. 

14 To exempt superannuated slaves from tax. 

15 To (through sheriff I collect taxes. 
16. .To grant rights to keep ordinary. 

17 To establish rates of ordinary as to eating, drinking, etc. 

18 To advise sheriff as to day of election of "delegates." (The 
justices sat with sheriff during election.) 

19 To (in some cases) direct the sheriff to sell insolvent debt- 
ors into servitude. 

20 To pay annual prizes amounting to several thousand 
pounds of tobacco for the best pieces of linen manufactured 
in the county. 

21 To train and organize Militia. 

22 To (in cases of poverty) — 

a Bind out orphan children as apprentices. 

b Engage physicians for sick paupers. 

c Levy tax for the support of the poor and needy. 

II. Esfa])]is]nnfi the Courts. 

The same assembly — 1773 — which gave us Caroline, 
enacted various laws relative to the new County Courts. 

1 The Assembly appointed seven Commissioners. 

2 These Commissioners were authorized to purchase "A 
quantity of land, not exceeding four acres of land, at or 
adjoining Pig Point on the east side of the Choptank Riv- 
er, below Melvill's Warehouse." 

3 The Justices of Caroline County were authorized to secure 
a place for court and gaol. 

4 Ordered court to be held at Melvill's warehouse until Court 
and gaol at Pig Point were complete. 

—7— 



5 Authorized Justices to levy a tobacco assessment sufficient 
to pay for land on which to build court house and gaol — 
plus 5 'a sheriffs fees for collecting. 

6 The commissioners were authorized to contract and agree 
for the building of the Court house and gaol. 

///. Placca of U aiding Court. 

1 Melvill's Warehouse. March 17 74 to August 177 8. 

2 Bridgetown (now Greensboro). August 17 78 to March 

1780. 

3 Melvill's Warehouse. March 17 8 to March 1790. 

4 Pig Point (now Denton). March 17 9 to present. 

IV. Co II it at Melvill's Warehouse. 

By order of Assembly (1773) Melvill's Warehouse 
became the temporary county seat and court convened 
there for all trems from 1774 to 1778. The following is 
the oflicial record of the same. 

Ot)iU't oi'gaiiizatioii — 

-Maryland at a County Court of the Right Honorable Henry 
Harford, Esq. Absolute Lord and Proprietary of the province of 
.Maryland held for Caroline County at .Melvill's Warehouse in the 
County aforesaid, the third Tuesday in March, Anno Domini 17 74 
beginning the 15 day of the said month and continued by several 
adjournments until the 17th day thereliy. Lordships, commission- 
ere and officers authorized and employed to hold the said court 
were 

Present 

The Worshipful 

Mr. Charies Dickinson 
Mr. Benson Stainton 
Mr. Thomas White 
Mr. William Haskins 
Mr. Richard Mason 
Mr. Joshua Clark 
Mr. Nathaniel Potter 

The said Lord Proprietary 
his Justices 

Wm. Hopper Esq. Sheriff George Fitzhugh, Clerk. 

The following commission and Writ of Dedimus Potestatem 
thereon indorsed to the Justices of Caroline County directed ar-:^ 
openly read (viz) the Right Honorable Henry Harford, Esq.; ab- 
solute Lord and Proprietary of the Province of Maryland to Rich- 
ard Lee, Benedict Calvert, Daniel Dulany, John Ridout, John Beale 
Boardley, George Stewart, William Fitzhughes. William Hayward, 
Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, George Peter, Benjamin Ogle and 
Philip Thomas Lee, Esquires, Charles Dickinson, William Haskins, 
Thomas White, Richard Mason, Joshua Clark, Benson Stainton, 
Natlianiel Potter, William Richardson, and ilatthew Driver, Junior 
men of Caroline County, Gentlemen Greeting, Know ye, that we 
have assigned you and every one of you jointly and severally, our 
Justices to keep our peace within our County of Caroline and to do 
equal law and right to all the Kings subjects, rich and poor, ac- 
cording to the laws, customs and directions of the acts of Asisem.bly 



of this Province, so far forth as they provide, and where they are 
silent, according to the laws, statutes and reasonable customs of 
England, as made and practised within this Province for the con- 
servation of tlie peace, and quiet rule and government of the 
King's subjects within our said County, and to chastise and punish 
all or any persons offending against the said acts, laws, statutes 
and customs, or any of them, according to the directions thereof, 
and to call before you, or any of you, those who in our County 
aforesaid shall break our peace and misbehave themselves; to find 
sufficient security of the peace and good behaviour to us and the 
said subjects, and if they shall refuse to find such security that 
then you cause them to be committed into safe custody, until they 
shall "be delivered by due course of law from thence; also we have 
assigned you, and every three or more of you— (then an enumera- 
tion of all crimes and misdemeanors follows) and none 

others to be Judges. Also by these presents we do command the 
Sheriff of our said County of Caroline that at the several Courts 
to be held for our said county, he give his attendance and cause to 
come before you, or any three or more of you (as aforesaid) such 
and so many good and lawful men of his Bailiwick out of every 
hundred thereof, by whom the truth of the matter may be Tjetter 
known and inquired of. Lastly, you shall cause to be brought be- 
fore you at your said Courts, all Writs. Precepts, Process, and In- 
dictments to your Courts and Jurisdiction belonging, that the same 
may be inspected and by due course of law determined. Witness 
Robert Eden, Esq. Lieutenant General and Chief Governor of our 
said Province of Maryland, this twenty eight day of February, in 
the third year of our Dominion. 

Robert Eden. (Seal) 

Till-; first court marie appointments and issned Or- 
ders of Court but no '^ trials" Avere held until Aus^ust, 
1774 at wliicli time the Commissioners and other officers 
were the same as those present in March. 

V. Court at Bridpetoivn {Greensboro). 

Troubles concerning the location of the seat of Jus- 
tice bep:an. Jealousy no doubt was the basis of the en- 
tire dissention. Durin.c; the Eevolutionary period the 
County Treasury had become depleted by general con- 
ditions as well as by the depreciation of currency so that 
the monies therein had almost reached zero. Wright 
sa3^s, ''Each year that this great and glorious conflict 
continued, depreciated Caroline's finances until they had 
almost if not quite reached the vanishing ])oint." With 
keen political acumen the Northern part of the County 
made a heroic effort to have the County Seat removed to 
Bridgetown (now Greensboro). The doA\m County poli- 
ticians offered vigorous opposition claiming that Eden- 
ton (now Denton) the place chosen by the 1773 Assem- 
bly was more centrally located and making protest 
against ''The Bridgeers" lacking dignity of name. The 
upper county retaliated in kind by reference to "Pig 

—9— 



Point" and the impropriety of the name Edenton be- 
cause of its relation to Governor Eden. 

And so the war waged. Mass meetings were held 
and committees from both sections with the fastest local 
craft obtainable flew "hither and to" across the bay to 
Annapolis trying to impress the law-makers of their 
needs. That they created some contention among the 
law-makers there is shown by the following enactments 
of 178G when: 

1 "An Act was passed suspending the erection of pubHc 
buildings in Caroline, and a petition was presented to the Assem- 
bly, signed by many inhabitants of the County praying that the pub- 
lic building be erected at Choptank Bridge." 

2 "A counter-petition signed by many other inhabitants of 
the County and preferred to the same Assembly prayed that the 
said building be erected at or near the center of the County." 

3 "The Assembly then passed an Act deferring the erection 
of public building until the next Assembly, any law to the contrary 
notwithstanding." 

That Court convened in Bridgetown a number of 
times during this altercation is proven by the Court rec- 
ords. The orders are as follows : 

1777 

"The Court appoints Messers Richard Mason, Henry Downes, 
Thomas Hardcastle, Matthew Driver and Nathaniel Potter, or any 
three or more of them, to agree with so ne person or persons in 
Bridgetown, for a house to hold Court in; a good and safe tempo- 
rary place, and that the same be put in order, fit and proper for 
the purpose aforesaid, and that they return an account of the 
same to the next Court." 

1778 

Ordered by the Court that Caroline County Court be held at 
Bridgetown for the future. 

1778 

Ordered by the Court that the Sheriff remove the prisoners 
now in the publrc jail at Melvill's Warehouse to Bridgetown as 
said there shall be a jail fit to receive them. 

The Court minutes give the following dates on which 
Court "set" in Bridgetown, in Aug. 1778 and Nov. 1778, 
but at the November session the opposition to Greens- 
boro was so strong that the following order was passed: 

1778 

On motion to remove this iCourt from Bridgetown to Mel- 
vill's Warehouse from whence it was removed at March term. 1778. 
the Court on mature deliberation is of the opinion that the remov- 
al from Melvill's Warehouse iwas unwarranted by any power in 
the Court by the Act of Assembly for fixing a place of holding th'i 
Court, and that at the convenience of the public business, and as 

—10— 



.Melvill's Warehouse is most ceiUral, and the place appointed by 
the commissioners of the peace under the Act of Assembly en- 
titled 'An Act for the division of Dorchester and for eractins a 
new house by the name of Caroline" 'for transacting the public 
business for Caroline County and the public buildings wiiicii be 
erected; therefore it is reported that this Court be held there as 
usual, and the >Clerk is directed to make on his precepts return- 
able to that place, and the Commissioners of the peace witii re- 
spect to recognition aie delivered to attend to the eame. 

Court adjourned to meet at Melvill's AVareliouse, 
where the sessions of Dec, 1778 and Mar. 1779 were held. 
Then once more the "Bridgeers" gained tlie ruling pow- 
er and Court was once more removed to Bridgetown 
where it remained during the sessions of June 1779, 
Oct. 1779, and March 178(K 

The plan of holding Bridgetown Court has been in- 
definite but recently it has been established that at that 
period a Colonial Alms House stood on the east bank 
of the Choptank River, about one quarter of a mile 
above the present bridge and one hundred yards or more 
back from the river's bank, and here Bridgetown held 
lier Court. 

From 1780 to 1790 the contention was continued but 
finally with the true S|)irit of Democracy which was ever 
the inspiration of Caroline the matter was made an 
election issue and put before the citizens to be decided 
by ballot. The question was submitted to the sull'rage 
of tlie ])eople at the election of delegates to Assembly, 
1790. Then Bridgetown met her final defeat for when 
the "count" was in the vote stood two to one in favor of 
Pig Point and made it the permanent seat of Justice. 

VI. Denton as County Seat. 

"BE IT ENACTED, That the clerk of Caroline County for the 
time being shall, at some convenient time before the first day of 
'March next, remove, from Melvill's Warehouse, all the books, rolls, 
papers and other records, belonging to the said County Court, to 
Pig Point aforesaid, and there safely deposit, keep, and preserve 
the same in some convenient house and the justices of the said 
Court shall direct and cause a list of all the said records and books 
to be signed by the clerk of said county, and entered upan record 
among the proceedings of said county." 

The above Act of Assembly, 1790, officially provides 
for the passing of Melvill's Warehouse as County seat. 
This the Assembly further stated was done for the bene- 
fit of the people of the County. The Commissioners 
were directed to secure four acres of land at Edenton 
before June 1, 1791, on which a Court House and gaol 
were to be erected. These Commissioners were William 

—11— 



Eiehardsoii, Zabdiol Potter, Jos. Richardson, Peter Ecl- 
mondson, and Joshua Willis. Tliese men secured the 
four acres — practically same as now in use — by the 
"condemnatory" process and ])aid 30 sli. (a little more 
than $7) per acre for it. The Court was authorized to 
meet at Pig Point in sucli building as the Judges thought 
most convenient for lidding Court and elections. There 
is no authentic record of the place of meeting during the 
four years 1791 to 1794. Wright plans it at the old brick 
mansion which once stood near the present location of 
the Brick Hotel but there were some half dozen other 
houses in the town at that time which were equally suit- 
able for such meeting which may 1)e held as probable 
meeting places. 

VII. The First Court House. 

In locating the court house the law had also provid- 
ed the name Eden-Town but until tlie erection of tlie 
building, 1791, the place remained Pig Point in local 
parlance. Previoush^ when used, the name had been 
abbreviated to Edenton, now the E was drop])ed and 
hencefortli we have Denton. 

The Commissioners at this time, 1792, were Chris- 
topher Di'iver, William Robinson, Philemon Downes, 
Thomas Jjockerman, and Jos. Richardson, and through 
their energy the C^ourt House was begun in 1793. It was 
a brick building, colonial style, modelled after and much 
resembling Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Its build- 
er was Willijun Benson of Talbot Countv, and the total 
cost was i^ 1800. 

And. now having secured the building after 20 years 
of effort, true to the perversity of mankind, the office 
holders, in part, were both to take up their abode there. 
A law was enacted by the Assembly compelling Clerk, 
Register of Wills, and Sheriff as well as deputies to 
move into the Court House or within one quarter mile 
of the same before June 1, 1795 the penalty of refusal 
being a fine of £1.") current money. Needless to say 
tliey all com])lied with haste. 

VIII . Chaufjes of 1895. 

A century run was given the first Court building 
and during that time, without the building' withstood the 
ravages of time sliowing little sign of decay. Its perm- 

—12— 



auency bore testimoii}' to the builder as well as for the 
Commissioners of 1795. 

However, with the growth of the County, the citi- 
zens tlemanded a larger and more modern building, so 
in 1895 the old one was razed. For the new Court House 
Joseph II. Bernard of Greensboro was selected as Ar- 
chitect and Chairman of the building commission, con- 
sisting of Messrs. Wm. E. Lord, George M. Russum, 
Thos. L. Day, John W. Clark, Bayard Nichols, Alex. 
Noble, Thomas E. Green and Henry Irwin. This Com- 
mittee contracted with Slemmons & Lankford of Salis- 
bury, Md. to erect a brick building for the sum of $21,000 
which stands today (1919) on the Denton Court House 
Green. 

The boundaries of the "green" have been somewhat 
changed since 1790 but the location remains the same. 
Someone has aptly said, 

"The once ancient looking Denton is no more but has passed 
•within the brief period of a score of years. In the substantial 
growth of Caroline's County town, it has done so conforming to 
the ideals of the townsmen that have not only built well, but have 
a knowledge of the value of civic pride in the rejuvenating of tan 
old town, or in building a new one." 

Oedees of Couet. 
/. Belated to Court. 

1774 

James Barwick agrees to Hnd a room to hold Court in, a room 
for the Clerk of this Court to the end of November Court, for 
which the Court agrees to allow him the quantity of one thousand 
pounds of tobacco to be levied at November meeting. 

1774 

The Court appointed Messrs Benson Staiuton and Richard 
Mason to try the Scales and Weights at Choptank Bridge and Mel- 
vill's Warehouse, and take an account oi what repairs are wanting 
to the said house, and report the same to Court. 

Ordered by the Court that James Barwick put the County jail 
in better repair than at present, by placing the logs, good and suf- 
ficient, under the sills of the same, that the logs be sunk in the 
ground and that he be paid and allowed for the same in the next 
levy. 

1774 

The Court appoints the several persons Constables for the en- 
suing year: Joshua Willis, of Great Choptank Hundred, Christo- 
pher Driver, for Bridgetown Hundred, James Cooper for Northwest 
Fork Hundred. Davis Robinson for Tuckahoe Hundred, and Solomon 
Mason for Choptank Hundred; WHEREUPON, the said Joshua 
Willis, Christopher Driver, James Cooper, David Robinson and 
Solomon Mason are qualified in open Court by taking the oaths of 
the government, the oath of constalble, subscribing the oath of ab- 
juration and repeating and signing the test. 

—13— 



John Cooper and Francis Stevens are appointed Sub^'Sheriffs 
who thereupon take the oaths to the government, oath of abjura- 
tion and repeats and signs the test. 

1774 

On application made by Messrs. Robert Goldsborougb, Thomas 
Goldsborough, James Tilghman, Nicholas Thomas, Jacob Moore, 
Ricliard Bassett, Solomon Wright, Matthew Browne, they are ad- 
mitted to practice as attorneys o£ this County, thereapon tiiey 
respectively take the oaiths of the government and the oath of at- 
torney, and subscribe the oath of abjuration and repeat and sign 
the test. 

1774 

The Court agrees to pay Edward Lloyd, Esq., the sum of five 
pounds current money in dollars at 7 snillings, 6 pence, (about 
$13) for the use of the old store house at Melville for the purpose 
of a jail for use in Caroline County until the end of November 
Court ne.xt, to be then levied. 

1774 

The Couit agrees to allow Johannah Bennett the sum of 4 shil- 
lings, 1 pence for keeping the Court House in class. 

1774 

Ordered by the Court that the clerk attend Melvill's Ware- 
house on Wednesdays every week, which day is by the Court ap- 
pointed office day. 

1774 

(Note the time these cases were pending, 1774-1782.) 

Webster Case: Richard Andrew, Pork, Special Bail. Judgment 
•against on award filed under the hands of Messrs. Nathaniel 
Hug'hes Potter, John Stevens and Zabdiel Potter, Arbitrators in 
the cause, that the plaintiff recover against t'ae said 
Defendant, the sum of six pounds, fifteen sliillings. Debt and two 
hundred nineteen pounds of tobacco and fourteen shillings and 
seven pence half penny, costs and charges. 

William Richardson, Clerk. 

1774 

Court fined Wm. Richardson, Clerk, 7 Vo shillings for not be- 
ing present at the time when Court ought to have been called. 

II. Orders Relating to Ordinaries. 

1774 

On application of William Haslett he is admitted to keep an 
ordinary and house of entertainment for one year at his house 
near Choptank Bridge on payment of 4£ ($20) current money of 
Maryland, (which John iCooper, sub-sheriff receives) for a license, 
whereupon the said William Haslett together with Matthew Bell 
and Matthew Driver, Jr., his securities, acknowledge themselves to 
owe and stand justly indebted unto the Rig'ht Honorable the Lord 
Proprietary of this province in the sum of 4 0£ current money of 
Maryland of their bodies, goods and chattels, lands and tene- 
ments, separately to be made and levied to the use of the said 
Lord Proprietary, his heirs and successors upon condition that if 

—14— 



tlie said Mr. Haslett shall keeip good rules and orders in. his Or- 
dinary at his dwelling house and do not suffer loose, idle or dis- 
orderly persons to tipple, game or commit any disorders or other 
irregularities in liis Ordinary and that he also will and truly ob- 
serve, fulHl and keep the several matters and things by an Act of 
Assembly entitled. An Act for licensing Ordinary keepers, hawkers, 
pedlers, and petty chapmone particularly specified and enjoined 
and in every respect conform himself thereto, then this recogni- 
zance to be void, otherwise of force. 

1774 

Utliei* licenses for keeping Ordinaries and lionses of 
entertainment were granted as follows : 

Levin Bell, near Tuckahoe Bridge; Eleanor Montgomery, at 
-Marshy Hope Bridge; John Fisher, on road from Choptank Bridge 
to Marshy Hope Bridge; James Barwick, at Melvill's Warehouse. 

In addition to the above list ordinaries were also 
licensed at the following places : Tnckahoe Bridge (Hills- 
boro), Murray's Hill (Linchester), Nine Bridges 
(Bridgetown), Potter's Mill (Williston), Chapel Branch 
(Piney Grove), Cross-Roads near Kingston (Smithson). 

Thns it will be seen that the county was well equip- 
ped with hotels to take care of the travellers on horse- 
back as well as provide liquid refreshments so common 
and cheap at that time. 

1774 

On application of Alexander Widougall (1774), he is license 
for one year as hawiker and pedlar on payment of four pounds 
money of Maryland (which John Cooper, sub Sheriff receives for 
a license). License delivered. Clerk records 4£ current money. 

The Court agree to the following rates of liquors (and tavern 
rates) until August Court of 1775: 

West India Rum 136. 4p. per gallon. 

Country Brandy 8s. per gallon. 

Strong Beer, Country Brewed 4s. per gallon. 

Every gill of 'New England Rum or Country Brandy with Mus- 
cavada sugar to make same into Punch and so pro rata 8p. 

Every Lemon or Seville Orange 6p. 

Hot Diet with small Beer or Cider Is. 

Cold Diet with Ditto lOp. 

Horse Stablage with sufficient fodder for one horse one night 
6p. 

Oats and Indian Corn each 4s. per bu. 

III. Miscellaneous Orders. 

1774 

The following order is among the first of the Caro- 
line County Court: Henry Swigate of Caroline County 
came and prayed to have the mark of his son William 
Swigates liogs recorded, which is as follows; to wit: 
crop and under bitt in right ear and the left under sliced 
and a hole in it. 

—15— 



17 74 

The Court agrees to give James Barwick 2500 pounds of to- 
bacco on condition that he keep a public ferry from causeway op- 
posite to Melvill's landing, and keep the causeway and bridge in 
passable order until November Court next, to be then levied. 

1774 

Maryland Know all men by these presents that we Michael 
Lucas, Edward White and Jaco'b Rumbley Lpd. and County of 
Caroline, are held and bound unto his Lordship the Lord Proprie- 
tary, his heirs and successors in the full and just sum of ISOO 
pounds of tobacco, to be paid unto the said Lord Proprietary, for 
his heirs and successors. 

lo the payment will and true to be made and done we bind 
ourselves, and eacn of our heirs, executors and administrators 
jointly and severally and firmly by the present. Sealed with our 
own seal and dated this 2 6th day of December 17 7 4. The Condi- 
tions of the above obligations are such that if the above bound 
Michael Lucas shall truly and faithfully perform tne duty of In- 
spector at ,. Melvill's Warehouse according to the directions of the 
late account oif Assembly, in such case make and provide then the 
above obligations be void of full force and virtue in law. 

Michael Lucas (Seal) 

Edw. White (Seal) 

JACOB KU.MBLEY (SEAL) 

"Mr. Richard Mason delivers the annual value of Richard 
Lookerman's lands, which said annual \alue is as followeth, to wit: 
We the subscribers being duly appointed and sworn by Richard 
Mason, Esq., one of his Lordships' Justices of the peace for the 
count aforesaid, that we will to the best of our skill and judgment 
make a true estimation of lands and improvements belonging to 
said Richard LoiCkerman, a minor, and now under the guardian- 
ship of said William Tripp of Talbot County. As is to s.iy his 
part of Talson Manor said to be five hundred and eighty ifive acres. 
We therefore duly certify that on the second day of April 1774, 
we met on said lands and did find thereon: 

One dwelling house 251't. by 16ift. with a lOft. shed. 

A kitchen 25 ft. by 17 Vz ft. 

A smoke house 12 ft. by 12 ft. built of logs. 

A barn 25 ft. by 2 5 ft. 

A corn house 16 ft. by IS ft. 

A milk house 10 ft. by 6 ft. 

Two small hen houses. 

Two corn houses. 

A Garden 100 ft. square. 

An apple orchard of 6 5 trees. 

Four small English Walnut trees. 

A nursery of peaches, cherries, quinces and plums. 

About 4 acres cleared land, etc." 

The followiiio- item (Sept. 1775) is interesting in 
its pi'ovision. 

The Court binds William orphan son of William 

deceased, by the consent of his mother, to Henry 

until he obtains the age of twenty one years, he 

being twelve years old November twelfth next, to teach him the 

—16— 



trade of cart-wheelwright, and to find him in sufficient meat, drink, 
washing, lodging and clothing and at the expiration of his servi- 
tude to give him a suit of clothes of broadcloth or drugget, white 
Bhirt, a pair of shoes and stocking, a hat, a set of tools, a broad 
axe, a saw, a drawing knife, and three augers, one i/^ inch, one 1 
inch and the third 1 Vi inches, two chisels, a gouge, a rule, a 
scale, and a pair of compasses and gives bond with Thomas Hard- 
Castle and Henry Sharpe his sureties, in the sum of forty pounds 
current money for due performance. 

At the December session of tlie Court an estimate 
of goods and chattels of Alford, deceased, included 

"One negro fellow named Peter aged 3 8 years, 4 8£; One negro 
woman named Phillis aged 44, 32£; One negro girl named Esther 
age 4, 20£." 



—17— 



THE HUNDRED— ELECTION DISTRICTS. 



/. hii loduct'wn. 

The Hundred is a division antedating the county, 
the town, the manor or the parisli. When the Angles and 
Saxons landed on English soil more than one thousand 
years ago, they formed bands of one-hundred for their 
protection and government. 

When the necessity arose in the colonies the early 
settlers adopted the Hundred as a civic division best 
suited to their isolated colonies. It was not in the same 
form as tliat of the Anglo-Saxon for the personal Hun- 
dred — one hundred families or one hundred soldiers — - 
was unknown here. Maryland's division was made geo- 
grapliically. 

The necessity for this civic division came with the 
issuing of legal writs to freemen to meet as representa- 
tives in Assembly. Thus you see Maryland's Hundred 
was originally a governmental district whose chief ex- 
ecutive was the constable. 

Later when counties were formed and writs of elec- 
tion were issued to the sheriff, instead of the constable 
of the Hundred, this division remained under the con- 
stable who attended to many civic duties in his division. 

II. Caroline's Hundreds. 

At the time when the Assembly granted the organi- 
zation of Caroline County, they also passed an act that 
the new county be divided into Hundreds. In accordance 
with this Act the November Court, 1774 divided the 
county into five hundreds as follows : 

1 Fork Hundred beginning at the Northwest Fork Bridge and 
running with the main county road that divides Caroline County 
from Dorchester County, to Cannon's Ferry on the North East Fork 
(Nanticoke) River, and from the said Ferry up the said river and 
branch to the head thereof, and so round and as far as is inhabited 
by the people of the Province of Maryland until it intersects the 
head of the main branch of the Northwest Fork River, and then 
down the Northwest Fork Branch to the Northwest Fork Bridge. 

y/ 2 Great Choptank Hundred beginning at the mouth of Hunt- 
inig Creek and running up said creek to the bridge over James Mur- 
ray's Mill Dam and fioni thence with the main county road that 
divides Caroline County from Dorchester County to the North West 
Fork Bridge and from thence up the said North West Fork Branch 
to Marshy Hope Bridge and from thence with the main road that 
leads to Nathaniel Potter's Landing on Great Choptank River and 
from thence down the said river to the mouth of Hunting Creek. 

—18— 



- 3 Choptank Hundred beginning at Xatlianiel Bradley's in 
Choptank Hundred, and runs witli tlie first line to Tuckahoe Hun- 
dred, so as to include Francis Orrell's in Choptank Hundred and 
from thence up Choptank River, and the main branch of the said 
river to the Dover road and down with the said road to Long 
Marsh to the head of Tuckahoe Creek and down with the said creek 
to the said beginning. 

4 Bridgetown Hundred beginning at Nathaniel Potter's land- 
ing on Great Choptank River and running from thence with the 
main county road that leads to Marshy-Hope Branch, and from the 
said branch up the said Northwest Fork branch and stream as far 
as is settled by the inhabitants of the Province of Maryland, and all 
around as settled as aforesaid, until it intersects the main branch of 
the head of Great Choptank River, and from thence down the said 
river branch to Nathaniel Potter's landing on Great Choptank River. 

5 Tuckahoe Hundred beginning at Nathaniel Bradley's upon 
Tuckahoe Creek, and from thence with a straight line to Francis 
Orrell's on Charles Nichol's plantation on Choptank River, and 
down with the said river to Vincent Price's and up with Tuckahoe 
Creek to the said beginning. , 

The court also appointed in 1774 the followino- con- 
stables for the Hnndreds as below: 

Miscellaneous Ordois and Business of the Court: 

"The Court (1774) appoints Christopher Driver constable of 
Bridgetown Hundred. Joshua Willis of Great Choptank Hundred, 
James Cooper of Fork Hundred, and Solomon Mason of Choptank 
Hundred who respectively took the oath of Government, the oath 
of Constable, and subscribes the oath of abjuration and repeats and 
signs the test." 

Owing to the indefinite boundaries of the Fork Hun- 
dred a change was found necessary as Cannon's Ferry 
proved to be in Delaware. This change made the Fork 
Hundred so small that the part remaining was in 1776 
incorporated in Great Choptank Hundred, 

Then the Great Choptank seemed large and unwield- 
ly for civic purposes, and again, in March, 1780, another 
change was made separating this Hundred into two parts. 
The Eastern part became Fork Hundred while the West- 
ern part retained the name of Great Choptank Hundred. 

While the names of many of the boundary places 
have been changed they may be identified by reference 
to the map of Hundreds. 

Election Districts. 

While the hundreds continued as subdivisions from 
1774 to about 1800 all elections for county officers in Car- 
oline County and members of the Assembly of Maryland 
were held at the county seat, and every voter who had 
the required (|ualifications, fifty acres of land, or forty 

—19— 






MAP 
or 
CAROLINE COUNTY 

D0RIN6 THE PERIOD-1800-182 0. 
PPEIPARED FPOM RELIABLE SOURCES 
BY EDWARD M.NOBLE 
5CALE-MILE5 

LEGEND 

+ CHURCH 
-H-5CHOOU 
© MILL 

□ waremousekTtobacco) 

>< BPIDGC 
HUNOPLD'5 P0UNDPIE5 

X WHARVLS 

Z^ ALMSHOUSE 
COUNTY ROADS 

•TOWNS 




MIT[LtY5BUPG 



TALBOT COUNTY 



PUNCH • 
HALL 

.^PEAB50N-5 M.OELAWARL 



BRIDGETOWN 
,HUNDREP 

WARSrtlYHOPL 



pounds sterling in money or personal property, who de- 
cided to vote was obliged to go there to exercise his 
rights, not by casting a Ijallot but viva voce; that is, tlie 
voters told the Judge or Judges of the election, the names 
of the persons for whom they proposed to vote. The 
Sheriff of the county was then judge of the election and 
made tl e official i eturns of the result. At some period of 
this method of elections, the polls w^ere kept open four 
days in succession for the convenience of voters who 
lived in remote parts of the county. 

Finding that the great inconvenience in getting to 
polling places kept many from voting, the General As- 
sembly in 1798 enacted a law dividing the counties of the 
state into election districts of which Caroline County was 
to possess three. The following year a commission named 
by the legislature divided Caroline County into the U])- 
per. Middle and Lower Election districts which super- 
seded the several hundreds then in existence. Greens- 
boro and Denton were the polling places for 1st and 
2d districts while the ord or Lower district voted at 
flunting Creek. In 1805 the voting place of the ord dis- 
trict was removed to "The Walnut Trees" near Hynson 
and in 1816 returned to Hunting Creek. 

Harmony became the election place of the Tjower 
district in 1852, an lionor evidently coveted witli nmch 
eagerness. 

The Legislature of 1854 erected district No. 4 which 
included about all of the territory which is now embraced 
in the Federalsburg district. 

In 1861 the provision was made for dividing Elec- 
tion district one into two precincts but this Act was re- 
pealed the following year at which time the county was 
divided into 5 election districts with Henderson, Greens- 
boro, Denton, Harmony and Federalsburg as the respec- 
tive polling places. This arrangement continued until 
1880 when tlie sixth or Hillsboro election district was 
organized. 

Preston which had been known for some time as 
Snow Hill became the voting place of the southern por- 
tion of the Fourth district in 1880 while Harmony con- 
tinued only as the polling place for the 1st precinct of 
said district. 

In 1894 the section around and including Ridgely 
having developed rapidly it w^as found necessary to erect 
the Seventh or Ridgely election district while at the same 

—21— 



session the Eiglitli district was formed from ]3arts of the 
3rd, 4th and 5th districts and American Corners desig- 
nated as the polling place. 

Somewhat later the 3rd election district having be- 
come rather unwieldly for voting it was decided to di- 
vide the same into two polling precincts, an arrangement 
which still continues. 



-22— 



LAND GRANTS. 



Originally all of Caroline County which lies north 
and west of the Choptank River lay within the bounds 
of Kent. 

When Talbot county was organized from Kent about 
1662 this territory was included. Again in 1707 this 
part of Caroline was again transferred when Queen 
Anne county was formed. 

Within 23 years after surveys began on Kent Is- 
land, Thomas Skillington of Talbot had a survey made 
on the east side of the Choptank River in the Frazier 
Flats section. This was about March l, 1663. Shortly 
thereafter surveys ,were made on Fowling and Hunting- 
Creeks as well as farther on up the river. Cedar Point 
the site of MelvilP'S W^arehouse and the first Court 
House was surveyed for John Edmonson of Talbot in 
1665. Likewise were surveys made about the same time 
in the Oakland neighborhood then designated as the 
"Forest of Choptank" and the Marshy Hope section 
between Smithville and Federalsburg. As indicated 
elsewhere lands were taken up slowly north east of the 
Choptank because of the uncertainty of the state boun- 
dary line. 

On all lands granted in Maryland by tlie Loi^'d Pro- 
prietor to settlers in his province under his "condition 
of plantation," he I'eserved an interest in each grant 
and stipulated an annual land rent to be paid by the 
grantee for two purposes ; the first was to make the free- 
holders feel a bond of allegiance to his Lordship, and 
the second though small in separate changes, yet large 
in the aggregate, — was his source of personal revenue. 
The rent was about one shilling (25c) per year on each 
50 acres of land granted. These rents called quit-rents 
were exacted by the Lord Proprietor's government and 
paid until 1776. 

Patent or I.aiid Grant, «tr How Land Wa« Originally Given Out By 

tli«' l^roprietoi'. 

Charles. Absolute Lord and Proprietor of the Provinces of 
Maryland and Avalon, Lord Baron of Baltimore, Etc. To the 
Persons to whom this Present shall come. Greetings in our Lord 
God Everlasting. KNOW YE, that Whereas in pursuance of our 
Instructions to our Govenor and Judge in Land Affairs for the 
Granting of our Back Lands on the Borders of this our Province, 

—23— 



bearing date the fourteenth day of June, Seventeen hundred and 
thirty three, and Registered in our Land Office, Henry Etinalls, 
deputy surveyor of the county of Dorchester, that by his certificate 
returned into our Land-Office certified, that he hath laid out for a 

certain Moore, of said county, a tract of land in said 

county, on our said borders containing one hundred and thirty 

acres of said county, a Tract called Calf Path, and for 

which land the said Moore has paid the sum of Two 

pounds, and nine pence half penny sterling. 

We therefore herelby Grant unto him, the said Moore 

all that the aforesaid Tract or Parcel of Laud called Calf Path, 
lying and being in the county aforesaid, and on our said Borders, 
beginning, (then follow a description of the land) according to the 
certificate of surveyor thereof, taken and returned into our Land- 
Office, bearing date nineteenth day of October, seventeen hundred 
and forty three, and there remaining, together with all Rights, 
Profits, Benefits and Phivileges thereunto belonging, Royal Mines 
excepted. TO HAVE AXD TO HOLD the same unto him, the said 

Moore, his heirs, and assigns, foreevr, to be h olden of us 

and our heirs, as of our Manor of Nanticoke in free and commons 
Soccage, by Fealty only for all manner of services. 

Yielding and paiyng therefore, yearly, unto us, and our heirs, 

at our receipt at our City fo St. Mary's the rent of five 

sihllimgs, three pence and half penny sterling, in silver or gold; 
and for a Ine upon every alienation of the said land, or and Part or 
Parcel thereof, one whole years rent, in silver or gold, or the full 
value thereof, in such commodities as we and our heirs, or such 
officer or officers as shall be appointed by us and our heirs, from 
time to time, to collect and receive the same, shall accept i ndis- 
charge thereof, at the choice o fus and our heirs, or such officer or 
officers, aforesaid; Provided that if the said sum for a fine or alien- 
ation, shal Inot be paid unto us and our heirs, or such officer or 
officers aforesaid, before such alienation, and the said alienation 
entered upon record either in the Provincial Court, or County Court 
where the same Parcel of land lieth, within one month next after 
alienation, then the said alienation shall be void and of no effect. 

GIVEN under our Great Seal of our said Province of Mary- 
land, this eighteenth day of March, Anno Dom. seventeen hundred 
and forty six. 

WITNESS our trusty and well-beloved Samuel Ogle, Esquire, 
Lieutenant General and chief Governor of our said Province of 
Maryland, Chancellor and Keeper o fthe Great Seal thereof. 



—24— 




THE MASON AND DIXON LINE. 



What is meant by this line ? Why does it concern 
Caroline County? Read and learn. The Mason and 
Dixon line with its stone markers is the visible record 
of the treaty made in a territorial war between Penn and 
Calvert in Colonial days. One historian says, "This 
di.-pnte had an even date almost with the ori.i;'inal grant 
to Lord Baltimore." Tliis o-rant it was held covered all 
the land from the 'AS" to the 40° parallels and extended 
to Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Snch being 
the case it included all the present state of Delaware as 
well as a strip 15. miles wide along the southern boun- 
dary line of Pennsylvania. 

In the present state of Delaware the Swedes settled 
first, then the Dutch wrested it from them. Later, in 



-25— 



1682 a special grant was made from the Duke of York 
to William Penii giving liim the Delaware section. In 
1685 this grant was duly confirmed. Proprietary Mary- 
land refused to submit so that up to the year 1732 there 
was ceaseless litigation as well as an occasional outrage 
along the border. 

Reverting to the earlier contention we find that in 
1681 the "Three Lower Counties," (now Delaware) set- 
tled the northern boundary separating them from Penn- 
sylvania as follows: With New Castle for a centre and 
using a 12 mile radius the arc of a circle was drawn, the 
line thus made forming the northern boundary then as 
now. 

But the Maryland-Pennsylvania dispute continued 
and finally in 1750 it was settled by "map," but on real 
land the location of the boundary was indefinite. Both 
Penn's heirs, and Frederick, Lord Baltimore, wanted it 
settled in a manner that would last for all time. The 
following survey of the Eastern boundary was made lo- 
cating it definitely. 

Recognizing the 38° parallel as the Southern boun- 
dary of Maryland it was then decided to find on this the 
middle jDoint between Delaware and Chesapeake Bays 
and from this run a North line which should form a tan- 
gent with the New Castle "arc" at its most westerly 
point. This was done and the line forms the Eastern 
boundary of Caroline County as well as of the state. 

Many interesting facts are connected with the run- 
ning of tliis line by the surveyors, most of which are re- 
corded in a series of letters written by Gov. Sharpe of 
Maryland to Lord Baltimore. 

In a letter dated June 22, 1761, Gov. Sharpe states 
that the surveyors, running the Maryland-Delaware lin<"' 
from tlie "middle point" before mentioned found that on 
reaching a distance of 25 miles north they were unable 
to take further observations because tliey could find no 
star by which to set their transits. Moreover at the 
same time they l^ecame sickly with Maryland fever from 
having been so long a time in a dismal part of the coun- 
try abounding in swamps. [They were in the Hickman 
and Smithville section]. As a result of the letter the sur- 
ve\ors were ini-iructed to discontinue for a time. 

As a conclusion of the above, Sharpe writes Aug. 17, 
1761 stating that on Aug. 9 t]ie surveyors, evidently re- 
covered from Malaria, were able to make observations 



-26— 



by Aliotli and the Polar Star, aceordiiigiy were pvoceed- 
iiii;' 11]) the peninsula witli the line, believing they would 
not again be interrupted until tliey reached Newcastle. 

On Sept. f) they found themselves 44 miles to the 
north and were hoping to reach Newcastle in October, 
but it was a case of hope deferred for again on October 
'2'2 Shar])e writes that they had been often interrupted 
by wet and cloudy weather and had not yet extended tlie 
line more than 77 miles but believe they lack only 5 or 6 
miles of the distance necessary, hence, imagine the re- 
maining distance can be run in 10 or 12 days. The exact 
day of comi)letion is not given but the account states 
that, Nov. 12, 1761, the north and south line has been 
completed, and they are preparing the tangent ready for 
the west line. 

The fact of 12 days being necessary for the running 
of a 6 mile line shows the difficulty of the work at that 
time. Instruments were scarce, and less perfect than 
now and mayhap surveyors less expert. Moreover in 
this case the direction of extra work devolved on the sur- 
veyors. To proceed through the forest it was necessary 
to open a way. Tliis was done by cutting a roadway or 
''vista" 8 yards wide along the line to be surveyed, as 
well as the setting of the stone line marks. 

While not connected directly Avith Caroline County 
it might be well to here mention the Mason and Dixon 
line as Maryland's Northern boundary. It was on this 
line that Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon put their 
personal work, and for them the entire line was named. 
Coming over in 1763, tliey had perhaps even more trials 
than the survevors of the North and South Line, for the 
Indians of Southern Pennsylvania added to their danger. 

Tlie East and West TJne began 15 miles south of 
Philadelphia, connecting with the North and South Line 
at its point of tangency with the Newcastle arc, west 
along the entire southern boundarv of Pennsylvania. 

And so the historic Mason and Dixon Line was run. 
It is marked from the ''middle point" to the Newcastle 
tangent and thence to the western limit of Pennsylvania 
by square mile stones, four successive having on one side 
M and on the otlier P, while on the fifth stone on the 
Maryland side has the coat of arms of the Baltimore's 
and the reverse side that of the Penn's. Such is the 
story of the Mason and Dixon Line wdiich someone has 
said, "Next to the Equator is the most widely known line 
in the world." 

—27— 



ROADS, FERRIES, BRIDGES, FENCES AND GATES. 



Roads. 

Even before the formation of Caroline County, 
roads and bridges lying within her bounds, had been pro- 
vided for by this Act passed in September 1704, which 
was for the benelit of the entire province. 

"WHEREAS it is tliought convenient, and very much for tlie 
benefit oi' tiie inhabitants of this province, that roads and paths be 
marlied, and the heads of rivers, creeiis and branches, be made 
passable. 

'•BE IT THEREFORE EXACTED, by the Queen's most excel- 
lent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of her Majesty's 
Governor, Council and Assembly of this province, and tlie authority 
of the same, that all public and main roads be hereafter cleared, 
and well grubbed, fit for traveling, twenty feet wide; and good and 
substantial bridges made over all heads of rivers, creeks, branches 
and swamps, where need shall require, at the discretion of the jus- 
tices of the county courts. 

AXD, for the better ascertaining what is or sliall be deemed 
public roads, be it LIKEWISE ENACTED, by the authority afore- 
said, that the justices of the county courts shall set down and as- 
certain in their records, once every year, what are the public roads 
of their respective counties, and appoint overseers of the same; 
and that no persons whatsoever shall alter or change any such 
public roads, without leave or license of the Governor or Council, 
or justices of the county courts, upon penalty of five hundred pounds 
of tobacco. 

AND, that all the roads that lead to any ferries, courthouse 
of any county, or to any church shall be marked on both sides of 
the road with two notches. And the roads that lead to any county 
Court house, shall have two notches on the trees on both sides of 
the road as aforesaid, and another notch a distance above the other 
two. And any road that leads to a church, shall be marked at the 
entrance into the same, and at the leaving any other road, with a 
slip cut down the face of the tree, near the ground. Any road 
leading to a ferry, and dividing from other public roads shall be 
marked with three notches of equal distance at the entrance into 
the same." 

In one of these Acts overseers of plantations were 
required to fell "all dead trees on each side of the main 
roads, whose limbs hang over the road, to prevent any 
danger that may happen by falling on travelers." 

In November 1798 the Assembly enacted that, 

"WHEREAS the present mode of repairing the public roads 
in Caroline County is found by experience to be expensive, and in- 
adequate to the purpose intended; and it has been found necessary 
that proper regulations should forthwith be made for keeping the 
roads of the said county in due repair; therefore, overseers, not 
exceeding five in any hundred, shall be appointed." 

"AND BE IT ENACTED, that it shall be the duty of the said 
overseers to keep all the public roads in the said county well and 



sufficiently cleared and grubbed, fit for traveling, twenty feet wide 
at the least, and to make and keep good and substantial bridges 
over all the heads of rivers, creeks, branches and swamps, where 
the same shall be necessary for the convenient and easy passage of 
travelers, with their wagons, carts, carriages, horses and cattle, 
and to remove all nuisances which may obstruct or annoy their 
passage, and well and sufficiently to causeway, all and singular 
such places in and upon the said roads as shall require the same, at 
the discretion and by the direction of the said justices; and for 
this purpose the said justices, or some one or more of them, in 
their respective neighborhoods, shall be and they are hereby auth- 
orized and required, from time to time, to superintend the making 
and repairing of the said roads, bridges and causeways, and to 
direct and advise the overseers in the execution of this Act." 

These overseers had the rio:ht when roads needed 
repair to call upon the inhabitants of the county for the 
necessary labor. Should those called refuse to go, they 
must send a sul)stitute or pay a fine of one dollar for 
each day's aliseuce. That there might be no shirking of 
\york the same fine \yas imposed if the person attending 
did not perform a reasonable amount of labor. The OAvn- 
ers or overseers of slaves were responsible for their at- 
tendance and work. 

An Act to build a lu'idge and o])en a road in Caro- 
line County. 

January, 1802. 

"WHEREAS it is represented to this General Assmbly, by the 
petition of sundry inhabitants of Caroline County, that they labor 
under many inconveniences for want of a bridge over a branch of 
the Northwest Fork River, at a place known by the name of The 
Old Bloomery. in said county, and a road to leiad from Douglasses 
mill across the said bridge, until it intersects the main road lead- 
ing from the Northwest Fork Bridge to Marshyhope bridge; and the 
prayer of the said petitioners appearing reasonable, therefore, 

BE IT ENACTED, by the Cxeneral Assembly of -Maryland, that 
George Collins, Charles Ross and James Houston, be, and they are 
hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of building and 
completing a new bridge at the same place where the old bridge 
now stands, over said branch, and the said commissioners, or a 
majority of them, are hereby empowered to agree and contract with 
any person or persons, upon the best and cheapest terms they can, 
to finish and complete the said bridge in a good substantial and 
workman like manner." 

The one hundred and fifty dollars needed for build- 
ing the bridge was obtained through assessments. 

"AND BE IT ENACTED, that the said commissioners, or a 
majority of them, are hereby authorized and empowered, to lay 

—29— 




H 
P^ 
O 

K 
o 

H 
H 

O 

O 

w 

m 

>H 
J 



-30— 



out, open and clear, a road at the expense of the petitioners, or any 
part of them particularly interested therein, or any other persons 
who may voluntarily offer their assistance, not exceeding twenty 
four feet in width, to commence at or near Douglass mill afore- 
said, and to run from thence in the most convenient direction over 
the Old Bloomery, aforesaid, and through James Houston's lane, 
or by James Wright's mill, as the said commissioners, or a majority 
of them, may think most expedient, until it intersects the main 
road leading from the Northwest Pork bridge to Marshyhope, pro- 
vided, that the said road shall not go through the garden or meadow 
of any person or persons without his, her or their consent." 

Fer7~ies. 

In early Caroline Gonnty there were only three 
bridges of much size — the ones at Grreensboro, Federals- 
bnrg, and Hillsboro, hence the crossing of the Choptank 
River below Greensboro had to be made by ferries of 
which there were about four, as follows: From Melvill's 
Warehouse across to a point near the Dunning Farm, one 
from Denton across a little later, from Gilpin's Point to 
Prices' Landing (Tuckahoe Neck) and from Hog Island 
(l)eh3\v Dover Bridge) to the Talbot side. 

The Court appointed persons to keep these ferries 
and charge in accordance with the regulated amounts. 
Tobacco was for a while the chief article of payment as 
per the following: Court order of Talbot County in 1760: 
Ordered that if Deborah Nichols doth not keep sufficient 
boat and hands to transport the inhabitants of this coun- 
ty from Barker's Landing to Hog Island or from Hog 
Island to Barker's Landing, and give a good attendance 
to tlie said ferry that her allowance next November 
Court shall be reduced to one-half. (Allowance of 4000 
lbs. of tobacco per year.) This amount was paid by the 
County in addition to the fees paid by everyone outside 
the county travelling by said ferry. 

The rates of non-residents in crossing the Denton 
Ferry in the year 1800 were as follows : Foot passen- 
gers 08c, horses 16c, two wheel carriage, liorse and pass- 
engers 35c, four wheel phaeton, horses and passengers 
75c, black cattle r2c. Persons that owned land in the 
county l)ut not residing therein were not charged for fer- 
riage. 

Bridfjes. 

The three bridges in the County were evidently con- 
structed very early as evidenced bv some legislation con- 
cerning these structures as follows: 

—31— 



November, 1794. 



"WHEREAS the inhabitants of Talbot, Queen-Anne's and 
Caroline counties by their petition to this General Assembly have 
set forth that the bridge over Tuckahoe creek is in a ruinous and 
almost impassable condition and have in their petition stated their 
advantages that would result by the erection of a new bridge over 
said creek, about three hundred years below the place of the old 
bridge, and it appearing that by building the new bridge, as prayed 
for, and altering part of the public road as may be necessary so as 
to pass over the same, will siiorten the distance for travelers, and 
add to the convenience and advantage of the said three counties; 
And whereas the bridge heretofore built was done and kept up at 
the expense of the said three counties, the said petitioners have 
prayed for a new one to be erected, and that the sum of one hun- 
dred and fifty pounds may be levied on the said counties respec- 
tively for the purpose aforesaid; wherefore to carry the same into 
effect, 

BE IT EXACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland That 
for Talbot county John Roberts, for Queen-Anne's county Henry 
Pratt, for Caroline county Philemon Downes, shall be and they are 
hereby appointed commissioners, for the purpose of building and 
completing the said new bridge; and the said commissioners, or a 
majority of them, are by this act authorized and empowered, as 
soon as it may be conveniently in their power, to cause the said 
new bridge to be built over the said creek, opposite a place former- 
ly known by the name of The Old Rolling House, lying on the east 

side of the said creek, which said 

new bridge shall he built and completed in the best and most sub- 
stantial manner it can for the money hereby to be granted; and 
the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are by virtue of 
this act. fully authorized and empowered, as they in their discre- 
tion shall think best, to agree for the said work with a contractor 
or contractors, for the whole, or in parcels, or they may purchase 
materials and hire workmen and laborers to complete the said 
work; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are also 
empowered to open and lay out, on the east side of said creek, 
from some fit and convenient part of the old road, a new road to 
lead to and across over the said new bridge to the Talbot side." 

An Act to erect a new brido^e over Great Choptank 
Eiver, in Caroline Connty, passed Jannary 15, 1808, 

"WHEREAS the old bridge over the Choptank river, at the 
village of Greensboro, in said county, is in a ruinous condition, and 
nearly impassable, and as it is found absolutely necessary that a 
Dew one be built at, or near, the place where the old one stands, 
therefore, 

BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, that 
George Reed, Nehemiah Townfiend and William Whitely be, and 
they are hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of build- 
ing and completing the new bridge as aforesaid, at or near the place 
where the old one now stands; and the said commissioners, or a 
majority of them, are by this Act employed to agree and contract 
with any person or persons, upon the best and cheapest terms, to 
finish and complete the said new bridge." 

In 1810 inhabitants of Talbot and Caroline counties 
living near Dover Ferry petitioned and Assembly "for 

—32— 



the convc'ineiu'O of the public" to incorporate a company 
for erectino- a In-ids^e over the Choptank river at that 
point. The bridge was bnilt and is commonly known as 
Dover Bridge. 

An Act to incor))orate a company for building a 
bridge over Choptank river at or near Denton Ferry 
(about 1812). 

"WHEREAS it is represented to this General Assembly, by 
the petition of sundry inhabitants of Caroline county, that the con- 
venience of the public would be greatly promoted by erecting a 
bridge over C hoptank river at, or near, Denton Feiry, and that 
sundry persons, by articles of voluntary association have contract- 
ed and agreed each with the other, to erect a bridge at the place 
aforesaid, and have subscribed and paid considerable sums of 
money towards the same, and prav that a law may pass to in- 
corporate the said association; and it appearing reasonable, there- 
fore, 

"iBE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
that the subscribers or proprietors of shares for building said 
bridge, as well as those who may hereafter become stockholders, 
their successors and assigns shall be, and are hereby created and 
made a corporation and body politic, by the name and style of The 
Piesident and Directors of the Denton Bridge Company. 

"AXD BE IT EXACTED, that the capital stock of said Com- 
pany is hereby declared to be the sum of three thousand dollars, 
to be divided into six hundred shares of five dollars each." 

It seems that the Denton Bridge was not built for 
several years after 1812, prol)al)ly about 1820, until whicii 
time a ferry was used. 

In 1849 the people of the county tiring of the disad- 
vantages arising from a privately owned bridge, had the 
General Assembly enact a measure which provided for 
the Levy Courts buying and making it a public bridge. 
Soon after this it was either thoroughly overhauled or 
rebuilt and stood until about 1875 when the new iron 
bridge was erected. 

After many years of use and inconvenience on ac- 
count of the narrowness of the draw this bridge was in 
1913 re|)laced by the modern concrete structure now in 
use. 

Felices and Gates. 

To protect the property in the county from damage 
done by live stock the General Assembly enacted, 

—33— 



"Tiiat from and after the first day of August 1824, corn fields, 
and ail grounds kept for enclosure in Dorchester and Caroline 
counties, shall be fenced, (here followed a description of fences re- 
quired) and if any live stock of any kind or description whatso- 
ever, s..all break into any person's enclosure, the same being of 
tue neignt and sufficiency aforesaid, then the owner or owners of 
such live stock shall be liable to make good all such damages to 
the owner or owners of such enclosure, as shall be found and 
awarded oy two or more judicious persons who may view the same 
under their oath or aflirmation, made before some justice of the 
peac ein said counties." 

AN ACT relating to gates on the public roads in 
Caroline Connt}^ 

BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of M'aryland, tiiat 
from and after the passage of this Act, it shall and may be lawful 
for any of the citizens of Caroline county to keep on the public 
roads in said county all such gates as are now erected on the public 
roads, foi their own private use and convenience, upon the express 
conditions following: all and every owner or owners of a gate or 
gates hung on good and sufficient iron hinges, and shall keep the 
same and that part of the said road which they occupy in good or- 
der and repair, so as to impede as little as possible persons travel- 
ing with carriages of pleasure or burden." 

"AND BE IT ENACTED, that if any person or persons after 
the passage of this Act, shall cut down, destroy, wilfully leave 
fixed open, or remove any of said gates, they shall, upon convic- 
tion theieof before a magistrate, forfeit and pay to the owner of 
such gate a sum not less than one, nor exceeding ten dollars for 
every such offence, to be recovered as small debts are out of court." 

"AND BE IT ENACTED, that if any slave shall cut down, de- 
stroy, injure, or wilfully leave fixed open, any gate upon the public 
roads, such slave shall be punished for every offence on conviction 
of a justice of the peace by the oath of one or more witnesses, by 
whipping on his or her back, in the discretion of the s\id justice, 
not exceeding for each offense the number of ten lashes; Provid- 
ed always, that the master or mistress of such slave, or any other 
person in their behalf, may redeem said slave so convicted from 
punishment by the payment of the fine to the owner or owners of 
such gate, imposed by this Act, upon free persons for like offenses." 

"AND BE IT BNACTE-D, that on all gates authorized by this 
Act to be keipt on the public roads, the owner or owners thereof 
shall pay annually a tax of one dollar for each and every gate by 
him, her or them kept on the public roads in said county." 

Gates on pnblic roads were abolislied between 1860- 
1870. much to tlie relief of travelers. 



—34— 



INDIANS OF THE EASTERN SHORE. 



7. Oil (/in. 

Whence came they? No written language exists to 
tell the story of their race and only a few specimens of 
^'picture writing-" are preserved to tlirow light on the 
Indian's past, hence onr present day knowledge is based 
chiefly on legendary lore which like most traditions is 
not always authentic. 

The historians of early days would seem to have 
been possessed of vivid imaginations. Note for exam- 
ple the record of Captain John Smith who explored on 
the Eastern Shore in 1608. "They were noble warriors. 
One was like a giant the calf of whose leg was three- 
quarters of a yard about, and all the rest of his limbs so 
answered to that projiortion, that he seemed the good- 
liest man we ever beheld. His hair, the one side was 
long, the other shaved close, with a ridge on his crown 
like a cock's comb. His arrows were five-quarters long, 
headed with the splinters of a white crystall-like stone, 
in the form of a heart, an inch broad and an inch and a 
half more long. These he wore in a wolf's skin at his 
back for a quiver, his bow in one hand and his club in 
the other." Reading this we can only say "And there 
were giants in those days." 

//. Tribes. 

The chief tribe of the Eastern Shore was the Algon- 
quin. They covered a vast area and from them sprang 
the sub-tribes such as Delaware, Nanticoke, Choptank, 
etc. These tribes were shore Indians and lived by fish- 
ing. Generally speaking they were peace-loving, gentle, 
and noted for making and selling weapons, or bowls of 
soapstone to the neighboring tribes who prized them 
'highly. 

The Delawares were the branch of the Algonquins 
from which sprang the Netego or Nanticokes and from 
this tribe the Nanticoke River gets its name. Indians 
figured extensively in Eastern Shore history because of 
all the Algonquins they were the most warlike. Their 
fighting spirit was probably developed in part both be- 

—35— 



fore and (luring- Colonial days tiii'ou,g-li frequent attacks 
on the Ali»-on(iuins by the fierce Siisquehannonghs, a 
branch of the more northern Six Nations which had 
Avantlered south from New York and Pennsylvania and 
bad become separated from their people. In colonial 
days these warlike Susquohannouo-hs not only massacred 
the whites but swooped down on the s^entle Algonquin 
tril)es with death dealing attacks. 

Again, in the heart of tlie savage might makes right. 
The Nanticokcs were the most numerous sub-tribe of 
the Algonqnins hence the desire for power may have de- 
veloped their savage instincts. This aggressiveness of 
the Nanticokes extended not only toward the weaker 
camps of their own people but reached out to the white 
man as later events will prove. 



III. Pollcii of Mari/laud. 

The policy of this colony as shown by the attitude 
of the Governors was one of "justice, moderation and 
kindness." Land acquired from the natives was, if pos- 
sible, paid for by giving hoes, broadcloth, axes, etc., 
thus maintaining })eaceful relations between the white 
and red men. 

Self protection, too, was a strong incentive on both 
sides. The Indians outnumbered the white settlers and 
this same justice, moderation and kindness was the best 
means of self-protection from the savage, while througli 
their friendship for the wdiites, the Algonquin ho]ied 
safety from the Susquehannough. 

The chief business relation between the whites and 
Indians was the bartering of "guns or ammunition for 
hides. 

To avoid any possible difficulty in trading with the 
Indians, a privilege was granted every white inhabitant 
of Dorchester County to trade with them without license, 
only at Captain Henry Trippe's house, in 1680. Pre- 
viously the Governor had issued special licenses to in- 
dividual traders who could go to the Indian camps and 
there trade, often selling them guns and annnunition, in 
violation of the trading regulations, which caused much 
trouble between colonists and the native Indians. 

This privilege w^as during the time when Caroline 
was in part included in Dorchester County. 

—36— 



IV. Indian Wars. 

Maryland as a whole was comparatively free froui 
Indian incursions and the history of the Eastern Shore 
gives record of only two organized expeditions to repel 
the savage, — one active and one incipient. They were 
as follows : 

The first expedition came in 1639 when various In- 
dian troubles on Eastern Shore led Lord Baltimore to 
send an expedition across the Bay. McSherry says, 
"The armament consisted of two pinnaces and a skiff 
iuanned with thirty good shot or marksmen who were 
drafted or pressed, and several volunteers. To equip 
and victual this force the Governor was under the ne- 
cessity of sending a shallop to Virginia to procure a 
su]>ply of arms, ammunition and food." 

The second or incipient expedition was 1642 when 
Indian outbreaks were rumored. The Nanticokes had 
planned to cross the bay to Western Shore and attack 
the white settlers there. 

(xovernor Calvert anticipated their actions and ap- 
pealed to the Governor of Virginia, to join him, as pre- 
viously, in raising a force of ap])roximately 200 men to 
repel tlie Indians. He also declared that we might call 
martial law% and establish a "dead-line" extending from 
the Pawtuxent River to the Potomac. Hearing of this 
preparation for their reception the Nanticokes w^eaken- 
ed and a truce was declared before active warfare be- 
gan. 

F. Conf'niua.Hon of Peace Policy. 

The original peace policy is shown throughout the 
remainder of this account. At Saint Mary's, April 13, 
1669 tlie following act was ])assed for the "Continuance 
of jjeace with the protection of our neighbors and con- 
federate Indians at Choptank River." 

Charles Calvert, Esqi'ire, Governor. 

It being most just that Indians, tlie ancient inhabitants of 
this province, should have a convenient dwelling place in this their 
native country, free from the encroachments and oppression of 
the English, and more especially such who are in danger to be de- 
stroyed by their neighbor nations our enemies, and whereas Ababco 
Hatsawapp and Tequassimo have of late given large testimonies of 
their fidelity towards us in delivering up the murderers of Captain 
John Odber for which they are in danger to be cut off and destroy- 
ed by the Wiccomesses and their confederates, the Matwha Indians, 
Be it enacted that all the lands lying within a certain district shall 



-o/- 



be unto said Ababaco Hatsawapp and Tequassimo and the people 
under theii- government, under the yearly rent of six beaver skins, 
to be paid to the lord Proprietary of this province. 

VI, Treaties. 

There is recorded but oue official treaty with the 
Indians, namely, The Treaty With Nanticokes, 1704. 

"It is agreed upon tnat from this day forward there be an 
Inviolable peace and amity between the Right Honble and the Lord 
Propry of this Province and the Emperor on Nanticoke upon the 
articles hereafter in this treaty to be agreed upon to the worlds 
end to endure and taat all former acts of hostility and damages 
vvuatsoevei by either party sustained be buried in perpetual ob- 
livion. 

"Ihat the said Emperor of Nanticoke shall deliver up all In- 
dians tl. at shall come into his dominion that are, or shall be, ene- 
mies to the English and further that if any Indian subject to the 
said Emperor shall hereafter kill an English man that the said 
Emperor shall ibe oblidged to deliver such Indian up to the Gov- 
ernor of this Province as a prisoner. 

"Forasmuch as the English can not easily distinguish one In- 
dian from another, that no Indian shall come into any English- 
mans plantation painted and that all the Indians shall be bound 
to call aloud before they come within three hundred paces of any 
English mans cleared ground and lay down their arms whether 
Gunn, Bowes or Arrows or other weapons, for any English man 
that shall appear upon his call to take up, and in case no one ap- 
pears, that he shall leave his arms if he come nearer, and that af- 
terwards by calling aloud endeavour to give notice to the English 
of his nearer approach, and if any English man shall kill any In- 
dian that shall come unpainted and give such notice, and deliver 
up his arms as aforesaid, he shall die for it as well as an Indian 
that kills an English man, and in case the English and Indians 
meet in the woods accidentally every Indian shall be bound imme- 
diately to throw down his arms upon call, and in case any Indian 
so meeting an Englich man refuse to throw down his arms upon 
call shall be deemed as an enemy. 

"The privilege of hunting, crabing, fowling, and fishing shall 
be preserved to the Indians inviolable. 

"That every Indian that killeth or steleth an hog or calfe or 
other beast or any other goods shall undergo the same punish- 
ment that an English man doth for the same offence. 

the marke of Vnnacok Casimon." 

VII. Migration. 

By liarassino- the Nanticokes the Six Nations liad 
brought them into subjugation; also in a treaty with the 
white had stipulated that these Indians be permitted to 
leave Maryland. About 1750 the majority of the Nan- 
ticokes migrated north, carrying with them the bones of 
their fathers, as was their custom. Part of the tribe 
went to Canada West, near Lake Erie, part to Wyoming 
Valley. Pa., and part to Otsiningo (now Binghampton), 
New York. 



Following tills inioTatioii we find that in 1761 tliose 
Nanticokes in Wyoming Valley appealed through the 
Governor of Pennsylvania to Maryland for permission 
to return for a remnant of their tribe yet remaining in 
that state. The appeal was granted and the remaining 
Indians yjermitted to migrate. 

Tw^o appeals were made by Nanticokes for land 
monies. That part which had withdrawn to Canada 
West ])etitioned in 1852 through tlieir chief and heads- 
men, that the Maryland Assemblv grant them certain 
annuities for which tradition claimed had once been paid 
their tribe for land rights. The Maryland Assembly 
declared the claim faulty and the ])etition was denied. 

Again, we find in 1767 the Nanticokes from Otsinin- 
go. New York makino- a similar appeal through one Ug- 
den, Atty. In this case the aprteal was granted but not 
seeminglv for the amount asked, for the records add 
that. Sir William Johnson, England's chief Indian agent 
"made un the difference at the exr)ense of the Grown." 

So the Indians wandered away, lost their tribal 
identitv and were blighted by civilization. Then wdth 
all this in 1761 came small-pox. In the Nanticoke tribe 
alone from 1763 to 177o the warriors were reduced from 
700 to 300. Soon all that was left on Eastern Shore to 
mark the home of the Red Man was their camp sites or 
the relics often found in field and forest. 

Till. MisceUcuneoiis. 

A further account of the Nanticoke Indians comes 
from one of their chiefs — White by name. 

"Every Indian being at liberty to pursue what occupation lie 
pleases, my ancestors, after the Lenape came into tlieir country, 
preferred seeking a livelihood by fishing and trapping along the 
rivers and bays to pursuing wild game in the forests; they there- 
fore detached themselves and soug'ht the most convenieit places 
for their puipose. In process of time they became very numerous, 
partly by natural increase, and partly in consequence of being join- 
ed by a number of the Lenape, and spread themselves over a tract 
of land and divided into separate bodies. The main branch of the 
Nanticokes proper were then living on what is now called the East- 
ern Shore of Maryland. At length the white people crowded sO' 
much upon them that they were obliged to seek another abode 
and as their grandfather, the Delaware, was himself retreating 
back in consequence of the great influx of the whites, they took 
the advice of the Mengroe (mingo's) and bent their course to the 
large flats of Wyoming, where they settled themselves, in sight of 
the Shawanos town, while others settled higher up the rives, even 
as high as Chemenk, (Shenango), and Shummunk, to which places 
they emigrated at the beginning of the French War. 

—39— 



' Nothing," said Wliite, "equalled the decline of my tribe 
since the white people came into the country. They were destroy- 
ed, in part by disorders they brought with them, 'by the smallpox 
and by the free use oi spiritous liquors to which great numbers 
fell victims." 

"The Nanticoke, the Choptanks and the Metapeake Indians, 
descendents of the Delawares, were first seen along the bay shores 
of Talbot county by Captain John Smith and his exploring party 
from Virginia in 1608 and later by Clayboure and his trading party 
four or Hve years before Lord Baltimore's Colonists landed at Saint 
Mary's, near the mouth of Saint /Mary's river. They had a pecu- 
liar and sacred respect for their dead. The corpse was buried for 
some months and then exhumed and the bones carefully cleaned 
and placed in an 'Osuary,' called manto-kump, (Manito) with the 
local termination or rather signification, "place of the mystery 
spirit.' When their tribes moved from one place to another they 
carried the bones of their dead with them. When they emigrated, 
about the middle of the ISth century and settled in northern Penn- 
sylvania, they carried their sacred relics with them, in bags on their 
backs, and buried them near the present site of Towanda. The 
Indian name literally meant 'where we bury our dear.' " 



—40— 



WHEN INDIANS LIVED IN OUR LAND. 



When the C^alverts came to America there were two 
important families of Indians living within the territory 
granted tlieni. The Sns(|nehannonghs in the northern 
l)art of the colony belonging to the Iroquois family were 
fierce and warlike, while on what is now known as the 
Eastern Shore lived the Algonquins, of more peaceful 
disposition. The Nanticoke and Choptank tribes belong- 
ed to this family. They were tide water people living 
along the rivers which now bear their names. Although 
these Indians were traders rather than lighters, the 
Nanticokes on several occasions proved hostile to the 
settlers. 

The men of the C1io])tank and Xanticoke tribes were 
tall and handsome, but disfigured themselves with paint. 
The women were short and heavy, lacking the dignity of 
the men. Like other tribes their cheek bones were high, 
mouths and noses large, eyes black and beadlike. Such 
clothing as the men wore was made of finely dressed 
skins forming a mantle which hung from the shoulders 
and an apron about the waist. They adorned them- 
selves with as many chains of beads and shells as they 
could procure. Tlieir straight black hair was tied in a 
single lock and ornamented with feathers. In winter a 
decorated robe, leggins and mocassins were worn for 
])rotection against the cold. The women wore short- 
sleeved tunics with leggins and mocassins in one, and 
the children's dress was much the same as their parents. 

Homes. The tents or wigwams of these Indians 
were made of young saplings set in the ground to form 
a circle with tlie flexible ends tied together to form a 
framework. This was covered with bark or skins. When 
fire was needed, it was built on the ground in the center 
of the tent. The wigwam held no furniture, a pile of 
leaves covered with straw serving as a bed. Except for 
sleeping purposes the wig'wam was seldom used, as the 
Indians lived almost entirely out of doors. 

The Chief's House. The chief's house, though much 
larger, was built of the same materials. Instead of the 
circular form it was oblong with holes cut in the sides 
for windows and an opening at the top to let out smoke 
from the fire. Grasses or rushes woven into curtains 
divided the interior. The only furniture consisted of 

—41— 



poles laid across four stakes driven in the ground, the 
whole being covered with leaves and skins and used as 
a bed, A strong stockade enclosed the chief's house, 
neighboring wigwams and council-fire around which the 
men gathered to discuss ])ublic matters and hold re- 
ligious ceremonies. 

Outside the villages the land was held in common. 
Each family had a plot to cultivate, the manual work be- 
ing done by the women and children, A part of each 
crop was for the chief, stored by him for personal use 
as well as for entertainment of guests and reserve in 
case of famine or siege. The main crops grown were 
corn, beans, tobacco, melons, and gourds. The men 
fished, trai)ped, and hunted small game. They also 
made weapons and bowls which were greatly prized by 
neighboring tribes who traded for them. The women, 
as in all savage races, were the burden bearers and real 
workers. With bones for needles and sinews for thread 
the}^ made the clothing for their families from skins 
they had carefully dressed. With wooden hoes they 
worked crops they had sown and later must harvest. 
When camp was to be moved, it was the women who car- 
ried the packs npon their willing backs while the men 
strode along with only their l)eloved bows and arrows as 
burdens. 

These red men were governed by a chief whose 
power was absolute over them and whose position was 
hereditary. Next in rank was a general who had charge 
of all expeditions, })eaceful or hostile. Such men as dis- 
tinguished themselves in council or battle were given the 
title of cockarouse. These men, with the chief, general, 
and medicine man formed the council of the tribe. 

The medicine man was looked upon as a person of 
great importance in the camp. His skill was supposed 
to be magical as well as medical. The Indians believed 
sickness a result of offending a spirit and part of their 
treatment consisted of pow-wowing, wild dancing, and 
gesticulation to appease the Evil One. Along with this 
herbs were used, while in case of wounds, the flesh was 
burned, 

Cereiiioules and Feast. In religious ceremonies, 
feasts and I'ites the medicine man again played a promi- 
nent part. These festivals were mostly in connection 
with seasonal changes, harvests, or return of migratory 
game. They were celebrated with dancing, singing, and 

— 12— 



feasting. Not until some time after tlie coming of tlie 
white men did these Indians indulge in any drink at their 
feasts except water sweetened wtih sugar — maple sap. 
In later years, drunkenness became prevalent among 
them as a result of trading valuable furs with the set- 
tlers for "fire water," as tliey called liquor. 

Tobacco was a sacred herb among the Indians and 
used only in the ceremonial pipe. In tlie council it was 
lighted by the chief who drew on it a few times, opened 
the subject for discussion, and passed the pipe to the 
Indian next in rank. He in turn puffed a while then 
gave his views on the matter. This was continued until 
the pipe had gone all around the fire and each man al- 
lowed an opportunity to ST)eak. Another use made of the 
pipe was to determine the attitude of visiting tribes. 
The chief after smoking it a while pat^sed it to the prin- 
cipal man of the visiting tribe. If he accepted the pipe 
and smoked it, his errand was understood to be friendly, 
but if he refused to smoke, it was a sign of trouble be- 
tween the tribes. The pipes were made of clay and dec- 
orated to suit the savage fancy. Several have been 
found in our county within recent years along with nu- 
merous stone hatchets, axes, and darts. 

Indian Money. One of the Indian means of ex- 
change was known as peak and consisted of small pieces 
of clam or mussel shell in purple or white. The purple 
was known as wampum-peak and had twice the value of 
the wliite. Rough bits of shell, rudely shaped, known as 
''roenoke" was much less valuable. Both peak and roe- 
noke were strung and valued according to measure. 
The value of a vard of white peak was 9 pence (18c), in 
trade with the English; the purple, 18 pence (36 cents). 

Indian Warfare. The Indians in their attacks upon 
the settlers used the same form of warfare as when fight- 
ing their own race. Tliey delighted in surprise attacks 
and displayed great skill in this. When an attack was 
to be made, the chief and his warriors met in council and 
celebrated the coming events by dancing and pantomine 
of shooting, tomahawking and scalping of foes. After 
this they slipped from camp and travelled noiselessly to 
their destination. Often they went under cover of dark- 
ness, in single files, hiding behind trees until at a signal, 
they burst upon their victims with a war-hoop and be- 



gan their cruel slaughter. 



—43- 



There are in some of our commiuiities Indian stories 
and legends wliicli have been handed down for several 
generations, and while in this way have become idtered, 
still must have had some foundation in fact. One of 
these stories is of the kidnaping of a child near McCar- 
ty's Wharf, in lower Caroline. An infant boy, Richard 
Willoughby by name, was left alone in his home while 
his father and mother were engaged in some out-of-door 
work. An Indian crept up to the house and stob,' the 
child. It was not until after six weeks of searching by 
the distracted parents and neighbors that he was finally 
found in an Indian camp at Yellow Hill. 

Along Hog Greek the remains of an Indian camp 
and medicine pit were found a few years ago. Indian 
caves and a large burying ground were located near 
Blairtown. On the Caroline side at Reliance there was 
for seventy years a reservation belonging to the red- 
men. What is now Downes Wharf once bore the name of 
Indian Landing. On the old Lyford farm in Tuckahoe 
Neck bones and skulls of savages have been found. 

Perliaps some day you, too, may find a relic of those 
long-ago tribes and treasure it in memory of a fast van- 
ishing race. 



FOREWORD TO THE TRIAL OF POH POH CAQUIS. 



{Adapted fro) II the Mairi/Unid Archives). 



On the ISth day of December, 1682 Poll Poll Caquis, 
Indian of the Eastern Shore, Maryland came to 'the 
home of William Troth at Dover Bridge. Troth was 
absent from home but, the Indian being cold, Mrs. Troth 
permitted liini to sit by the tire. 

After an hour had passed Troth returned, accom- 
])anied by John Slie])herd, a neighbor. A few minutes 
later as the Indian, Troth and Shepherd conversed to- 
gether Thomas Bnssey came to the door. 

As Troth turned to speak to Bnssey, Poh Poll Ca- 
quis seized his gun and fired directly at Troth, but fail- 
ing in this attacked him with his tomahawk, then ran 
away followed by Troth, She))herd and Bussey. Al- 
though he tinally escaped Poh Poh Caquis carried with 
him a load of buckshot from Troth's gun. 

Fearing further trouble, on Dec. 22, 1682 Troth 
went to the home of John Edmonson where Col. Phile- 
mon Lloyd, a member of the Governor's Council, was 
visiting, and made formal complaint against Poh Poh 
Caquis. 

Idoyd at once wrote to the Governor, and later when 
the Council met definite action was taken. At this meet- 
ing only four nicniljers of the Council were present, 
namelv : 

Tlie Hon. Col. Thomas ZaiHer, 
The Hon. Col. Vincent Lowe, 
The Hon. Col. William Burges, 
The Hon. Mr. John Darnali. 

The Council a]ipointed as a Special Commission ''to 
go examine and try" the case of Poh Poh Caquis the 
Honorable Henry Coursey, Esq. and the Honorable Col- 
onel Philemon IJoyd. 

The Hon. Henry Coursev, Esq., was President of 
the Commission wliicli met at Wve River, Talbot Co., 
March 5, 1683. 

Trial of Poh Poh Caquis. 

Scene, — Courthouse at Wye River. Mar. 5. 1683. 
Characters, 

—45— 



Special Commission. 

President, the Hon. Henry Coursey, Esq. 
Gov. Council the Hon. Philemon Lloyd. 
Secretary to President. 

White men. 

The Constable John Shepherd 

The Interpreter Thomas Bussey 

William Troth 

Indians. 

Poh Poh Cayuis Wasatwahau 

King Ababsco Weenakaman 

King Tequassimo Cha Cha Pohosse 
Wewohquak 

TRIAL. 

Pres. of Court. (Calls order) 

Tills body has convened today for the trial of one Poh 
Poh Caquls, Indian of the Eastern Shore, subject to Ahatsawak 
of Assoteaque. Will the constable bring the prisoner into 
Court. 
Constable. (Retires) 

(Returns immediately with Poh Poh Caquis.) 

Here he Is, Your Lordship. 
Pres. of Court. (Addressing assemblage.) 

Gentlemen, we nave before us today, in the Sub-^Court of 
King George in the Province of Maryland, a case of much In- 
terest to our Red brothers as well as the White man, — that of 
an Indian for an evil attack on his white brother. 

Red men, our Rt. Honorable Lord Proprietor gave you a 
convenient dwelling place free from the encroachment of the 
white man. It is the will of his Lordship, Gov. Charles Cal- 
vert that you have such a home. 

King Abasoo and King Tequassimo have In past times 
given testimony of their fidelity. Shall that fidelity be broken 
now ;' The charge is that Poh Poh Caquis has placed himself 
under the law of the Province of Maryland by atte^nptlng 
murder. The Secretary has the complaint as made by one 
William Troth to Colonel Piiilemon Lloyd, while at the home 
of John Edmonson. Dec. 2 2, 1682. Let the Secretary read 
the Indictment. 
'Secretary to President. (Reads) 

About the ISth day of December (1682) came an Indian 
to my house about two o'clock in the afternoon. I, not being 
present in the house and the said Indian pretending to be cold, 
my wife bid him go to the fire and there he was about an 
houre. By this time my wife sent for me and when I came 
into the house the said Indian came from where he had been 
sitting by the fire and look'd upon me, but said not a word to 
me not I to him; then straight-way returned to the fire again. 
I went to where he was sitting by the fire with his Gunn 
standing by him. I spoke to him and said. "How Is Ketop". 
"Howan Pawmen kees", he replied In Delaware. 
Governor's Council. (Addressing Pres.) 

Your Lordship, may I address William Troth. 

(iPres. bows assent and Troth rises facing G. C.) 
(Addressing Troth) Do you affirm the truth of this in- 
dictment as read in part before this court. 

—46— 



William Troth. 

Your Lordship, I do. (Sits) 
Secretary of Pres. (reads) 

Juiin bhepiierd, sitting by the fire, said, "He tells me he 
is a Delaware Indian, and that there are two hundred Seuni- 
quox Indiana hard by," I said, "Pish, does thou believe him 
what he talks of. He lies." The Indian make answer he did 
not lie, for I should see them by and by. I made answer I 
would not see them if I could help it, but he said I should 
and forthwith fell ahollowing. 
Governor's Council. (Addressing Pres.) 

\ our Lordship is John Shepherd in Court? 
John Shepherd. (Rising) 
Yes Your Honor. 
Governor's Council. (Addressing Shepherd). 

Weie you present at the home of William Troth at the 
time referred to in indictment read'.' 
John Shepl erd. 

I was your Honor. 
Governor's Council 

Do you affirm the truth of the indictment as read. 
John Shepherd. 

I do your Honor. (Sits) 
Governor's Council. (To Sec.) 

Proceed. 
Secietary of President. 

Before I could speak any more words to him, comes to 
the doore Thomas Bussey. I turned me about to speake to the 
said Thomas: while my back was toward the Indian the said 
Indian made ready his Gunn; I presently turned about again 
and seeing the muzzle of the gunn towards me, I endeavored 
to get hold of it, but before I could she went off, and with 
the bonding of my body to get hold of the gun, the shott mist. 
When he saw he had done no execution he took to his Toma- 
hawke, and followed me about eight or ten yards; and when 
I saw he followed me I called for my gunn. and as soon as 
he heard me call for my gunn he ran and when he was about 
thirty yards from me I discharged my gun at him. (Sec. sits.) 
Governor's Council. (Addressing Assembley) 

Thomas Bussey, stand. 
Thos Bussey. (stands and bows.) 

Your Lordship. 
Governoi''s Council. (Addressing Bussey) 

W^ere you present on the 18th of December 16S2 when 
Poh Poh Caquis attacked William Troth as charged. 
Thos. Bussey. 

I was your Lordship. 
Governor's Council 

Thomas Bussey do you affirm that this accusation charg- 
ing Poh Poh Caquis with an attempt on the life of William 
Troth of Dover Bridge is true? 
Thos. Bussey. 

The charge is true Your Lordship. (Gov. Council and 
Bussey sits.) 
Pres. Of Court. 

The indictment has been read and its truth affirmed by 
these witnesses. Interpreter will you ask the prisoner why 
he denied his tribe, 
(^lock interpretation) 
Interreter. (To Pres. of Court.) 

The prisoner says he was drunk and knew not what he 
did. 

—47— 



Pres. of Court. (To interpreter.) 

Ask the prisoner wiiat defense he makes. 
(Mock interpretation) 
Interpretor. (To tne Pres. of Court.) 

The prisoner says lie was drunli otlierwise he would not 
have shot at William Troth or have done any mischief. 
Pres. of Court. (To Interpreter.) 

Tell the Indians that it is the English law that if a man 
do mischiet he must suffer. If drunkenness is an excuse tnen 
the English might make themselves drunk and kill Indians. 
(King Ababscoete confer with Interpreter.) 
Interpreter. (To Assembly.) 

King Ababsco says that an English man shott at three 
Indian boyes but they came home not hurt, soe took noe notice. 
'Governor's Council. (Interrupting.) 

Tell him the English were not informed. If they had 
the English man should have suffered as the law prescribes in 
such cases. 
Pres. of Court. (Ignoring Council's words.) 

Tell the Indians we can remember several miscarriages 
of their people, for which tliey have not been punished but 
we came not here to call to mind old differences but rather 
expect they should be forgot on both sides; but now we have 
taken this prisoner in fact he ought to suffer. We desire to 
know whether they justify the prisoner. 
(Mock interpretation) 
Interpreter. 

They say they cannot justify the prisoner, neither did 
they come to excuse him. 
Pres. of tlie Court. 

Tell them that it is the custom of Christian Nations, that, 
if the peace is broken, he that doeth it must surely die, and 
this Indian by the law deserves death; but that the English 
are not desirous to exercise the rigour of the Lawe; there- 
fore Poh Poh Caquis shall be carried to the whipping post and 
have twenty lashes on his bare back. 
Interpreter. (After mock interpretation.) 

Your Lordship, the Indians consent and have commanded 
one of their great men, Weahquap to execute the judgment. 
(Constable, prisoner and Indians turn to leave.) 
Governor's Council. (With Emphasis) (Indians turn) 
Your Lordship the punishment is not sufficient. 
(Mock interpretation) 
Interpreter. 

King Ababsco and King Tequassimo engage their words 
for the prisoner's good behavior forever hereafter. 
Gov. Council. 

It is not enough. Poh Poh Caquis may, notwithstandin, 
doe further mischief. Troth's life may be in constant danger. 
In what custody will they keep him. 
(Pres. Order Interpretation.) 
Interpreter. 

Your Lordship, the Indians do not know how to secure 
him. They can say not more than Abatsawok had said form- 
erly, — that they left it to his Lordship. 
Pres. of Court. 

The order is given that Poh Poh Caquis receive twenty 
lashes on his bare back. This for his evil attack. Moreover 
for the future safety of the English the Court decrees that 
after this punishment Poh Poh Caauis be transported into 
some part beyond the sea, as a villian not fit to be trusted here 
without danger of having the peace broken. 

—48— 



The Constable may remove the prisoner and after We- 
wahquap hath executed the sentence, the sentence of twenty 
lashes on the bare back, Poh Poh Caquis may be delivered to 
the High Sheriff of St. Mary's. (Constable leads out Poh Poh 
Caquis followed by Indians. Conversation and handshaking 
among men.) 

Pres. of Court. 

The trial of Poh Poh Caquis being ended this Special 
Commission has fulfilled its duty and adjourns the Court. 



-49- 




CAROLINE COUNTY'S FIRST COURT HOUSE. 



ERECTION OF THE COURT HOUSE AND JAIL. 



Perhaps yon wonder why over twenty years elapsed 
l:)etween the formation of the county and the building of 
the court liouse. Here is the explanation as given in 
the records of the county court, General Assembly and 
Convention of Maryland of 1774-97. 

Just previous to the establishment of Caroline, Dor- 
chester county had levied a tax for the purpose of build- 
ing a court house at Cambridge. That part which had 
been ])aid by people living in the section included in 
Carolina (70,()()() ^.])s. of tobacco) was ordered to be giv- 
en to the new county. The inhabitants of the section 
taken from (Jueen Anne's were to be taxed in the same 
))roportion (56,000 11 )s. of tobacco) and the monies there- 
from used for buildino' a court house at Pis' Point (now 



-50- 



Denton). Altiiuni;-li tliis seemed to assure the financial 
side of the undertaking, the dark days which were ahead 
for tlie entire colony caused a delay. With the outbreak 
of the Revolution, the Convention which now took the 
place of the late Assembly, suspended all levies until 
after the war, Dorchester's tobacco had been turned 
into paper money and at the close of the war its value 
had so depreciated that it was necessary to cause a new 
levy to be made upon the county for £1000. The com- 
missioners were ordered to "demand, sue for, recover, 
and receive all monies previously levied and collected 
and use it for the same purpose." 




■ "^'*""ftf 



^^ Qg.'^ToiM^ 




SECOND CAROLINE COUNTY JAIL PRECEDING PRESENT QNE. 

While this was l)eing- done and things again at a 
standstill, Bridgetown renewed her plea for the county 
seat. The compromise spoken of in the preceding chayv 
ter occurred at this time and four years ela})sed before 
further decision was reached in the matter. In 1790 it 
was finally decided that as the removal of court to Pig 
Point would be for the convenience and advantage of 
the inhabitants of the county the clerk should move the 
records, rolls, and books to that place and there, "safe- 
ly deposit, keep, and preserve the same in some conve- 
nient house" before March 1st, 1791. 



—51— 



New commissioners were at this time appointed as 
follows: William Richardson, Zebdiel Potter, Joseph 
Richardson, Peter Edmonson and Joslina Willis. These 
men were to purchase land, have it surveyed, laid out 
and plotted, collect all monies and tobacco previously 
levied, and contract for tlie erection of court house and 
jail. 

( )n Ai)ril 27, 1791, they contracted with AVilliam 
Benson of Talbot county to build the court liousi'. Tlie 
orioinal contract called for €1300 current money, but 
later, Mr. Benson fiiiding this insufficient, an additional 
£500 was allowed. In 1797 the building was finally com- 
pleted and stood until 1895 a tribute to the persever- 
ance of the people of Caroline county and the splendid 
workmanship of Benson. 

I^pon the completion of the court house, monies 
which had been intended for use in buildino' the jail were 
entirely used. Thomas Hughlett, Zebdiel Potter, and 
Tlioma*^ Allen Sangston were appointed commissioners 
and authorized to levy a tax of £500 in the years 1797 
and 1798 for the purpose of building- the prison. Not 
all of this money was needed, however, and the remain- 
der was used in building a causeway on the east and a 
wliarf on tlie west side of the Clioiitank at Denton. 




CAROLINE'S PRESENT COURT HOUSE. 



-52- 




—53— 



REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 



The Militia. 

/. hitrnrlnrfinu. 

The story of the Militia of tlio Eastern Shore is the 
sto' y of the spirit of the times, and tliis cannot bo more 
clearly set forth than bv qnoting from a letter written 
Mav 1774, by a Mr. Eddie, officer of tlie English Govern- 
ment. 

"All America is in a flame: I hear strange language every day. 
The colonists are ripe for any measure that will tend to the preser- 
vation of what they call their national liberty. I enclose you the 
resolves of our citizens; they have caught the general contagion. 
Expresses are flying from province to province. It Is the universal 
opinion here, that the mother country cannot support a conten- 
tion with these settlements, if they abide steady to the letter and 
spirit of their association." 

All Maryland was aroused and Caroline Connty 
seemed imbued with even more than her quota of enthu- 
siasm, and she was amono; the first to respond to the call 
of the nation. Her militia, her minute men, her Flying 
Camp were the material outgrowth of her spirit of De- 
mocracy. 

II. Ori(/'ni of MiJifia. 

The Militia was a provincial organization of a very 
early date, an x\ct of General Assembly for such an or- 
ganization having been passed at their session in 1638. 

This Act provided that, under the direction of the 
Lieutenant General, "The captain of the military band 
shall use all power necessary, or conducing, in his direc- 
tion, to the safety and defense of the province." 

However at the opening of the Eevolutionary period 
the Militia was only a tentative organization and Caro- 
line as a county had no such military body of which we 
know. 

II J. CdroUiir's AwaJceuhifj. 

In all the colonies the English yoke was becoming 
heavy and as the spirit of Liberty spread abroad Mary- 
land joined the opposition to England's tyranny with 
"A stern determination to have it efficient." 



Then Caroline came to the fore-front in her state 
activities when the citizens in 1774 held a lar^e meeting 
at Melvill's Warehouse, on the 18th day of Jane, by ad- 
journment from the 8th of the same month, and passed 
the following resolutions, Charles Dickinson, Esq., chair- 
man : 



"1. Resolved, That the inhabitants of this country are by 
duty and inclination tirmly attached to his most sacred majesty, 
King George the Third, to whom we owe all due obedience and 
allegiance. 

"2. That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that 
the Boston port act is principally grounded on the opposition made 
by the inhabitants of that town to the tea duty, that the said town 
of Boson is now suffering in the common cause of British America, 
and that it is the duty of every colony thereof to unite in the most 
effectual means of obtaining a repeal of the late act of parliament 
for shutting up the port of Boston. 

"3. That in the unanimous opinion of this meeting that if 
the colonies came into a joint resolution to forbear all importa- 
tions whatsoever from Great Britain, (except such articles as are 
absolutely necessary ) until the acts of parliament for shutting up 
the port of Boston, and for levying a duty in America for the ex- 
press purpose of raising a revenue, shall be repealed, it will be the 
means of preserving the liberties of North America. 

"Resolved, therefore. That the inhabitants of this county are 
disposed flrmly to unite with the inhabitants of this province and 
the other colonies of North America, in an association and agree- 
ment to forbear the importation of goods and merchandise from 
Great Britain, during the continuance of the said acts of parlia- 
ment (except such articles as may be judged proper to be excepted 
by a general association,) and that all orders for importation, (ex- 
cept the articles before excepted,) ought to cease. 

"i. That it is against the opinion of this meeting, that the 
colonies go into a general non-importation from, or non-exportation, 
to Great Britain, but should both, or either of these measures be 
adopted, they will acquiesce therein. 

"5. That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that the 
courts of justice be kept open. But should a non-exportation agree- 
ment be generally come into, in that case it is the opinion of this 
meeting that the courts of justice be shut up. 

"6. That it is the opinion of the inhabitants of this county, 
that this province ought to break off all trade and dealings with 
that colony, province, or town, which shall refuse or decline to 
come into similar resolutions with a majority of the colonies. 

"7. That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that 
delegates be appointed from this province to attend a general con- 
gress of delegates from the other colonies, at such time and place 
as shall be agreed on, in order to settle and establish a general plan 
of conduct for the important purposes aforementioned. 

"S. That Thomas White, William Richardson, Isaac Bradley, 
Nathaniel Potter, Benson Stainton, and Thomas Goldsborough. be 
a committee to attend a general meeting at Annapolis. And that 

—55— 



the same gentlemen, together with Charles Dickinson, Richard 
-Mason, Joshua Clark, Henry Dickinson, Dr. Wm. Molleson. Charles- 
Blair, Wm. Haskins, Philip Fiddleman, Wm. Hooper, the Rev. 
Samuel Keene, the Rev. Philip Walker, Henry Casson, and Bene- 
dict Brice, be a committee of correspondence to receive and answer 
all letters, and on any emergency, to call a general meeting and that 
any seven of the number have the power to act. 

"9. That this paper be considered as an instruction to the 
deputies nominated from this County to meet at the city of Annap- 
olis for the purpose of forming a general association, in which 
they are not to come into any engagement whatever, but upon con- 
dition that the colonies in general shall come into a similar 
measure. 

"10. That a copy of the proceedings be published in the 
MARYLAND GAZETTE, to evince to the world the sense they en- 
tertain of the invasion of their constitutional right and liberties. 
Signed, per order, 

"Henry Downes, Jr., Clerk." 

These resolutions show that the intent of the colo- 
nists was readjustment of differences, not war. They 
wanted trade relations changed, not the government. 
When however April 28, 1774 at 9 A. M. the blood-tid- 
ings from Lexington reached Annapolis war became a 
certainty in the minds of the Assembly, 

A letter sent to the State deputies of each county 
stating the savage massacre of a number of the inhabi- 
tants of Lexington, and the movement of the King's 
troops, numbering 1200, caused great alarm through the 
colonies ; therefore, it became necessar^^ to form some 
kind of a resistance. 

When the convention met at Annapolis in December 
a resolution was adopted, in substance as follows: 

On the eighth day of December, 1774, tlie deputies 
from each county met and resolved to form a militia of 
their respective counties. This militia was to be com- 
posed of the gentlemen, freeholders and other freemen. 
It was further recommended that all persons from six- 
teen to fifty years of age enroll and form themselves in- 
to companies of 68 men; to choose a captain, two lieuten- 
ants, an ensign, four sergeants, four corporals and one 
drummer for each company. These men were to use ev- 
ery means possible to make themselves masters of the 
military exercise. Each man was to be provided a good 
fire-lock and bayonet fixed thereon, one half pound of 
powder, two pounds of lead, and a cartouch box, or pow- 
der-horn, and a l)ag of ball, and be in readiness to act in 
any emergency. 

—56— 



At the same time it was recommended that the 
''Committee" of each County raise a solicited subscrip- 
tion or voluntary gift of monies amounting in full to 
10,000 pounds of which Caroline's allotment was 358 
pounds. 

Under the direction of the Committees from the re- 
spective counties this money was to be used to purchase 
arms and annnunition for the use of such county. 

The resolves of the convention were immediately 
carried out; old and young enrolled with the greatest 
enthusiasm, and money, arms, and ammunition, were ev- 
erywlu're collected to meet the approaching crisis. Mary- 
land was girding herself for the struggle. It broke out 
in open conflict, just before the meeting of the conven- 
tion. 

To repress toryism, it was enacted that if any in- 
haliitants of the |)rovince should, after the 5th of August 
following, levy war against the United States or should 
adhere "to any person or persons l)earing arms or em- 
l)loyed in the service of Great Britain against the Unit- 
ed Colonies, or shall afford such persons, 

any aid or comfort, or shall give them, or any 

subject of Great Britain anv intelligence of the warlike 

preparations or designs of the United Colonies, 

such person on conviction thereof by a petit jury, after a 
presentment by a grand jury, in a court to be erected in 
this colony by the next convention, for the trial of such 
offenders, shall suffer death without benefit of clergy, 
and forfeit all estate wliicli he liad at the time of the com- 
mission of the crime, to be applied to the use of this col- 
ony, unless such convicted person shall be pardoned by 
the person or persons invested with the power of grant- 
ing pardon for such offences." 

While in all prol)ability the enrollment was not com- 
plete on the given date the records state that on Septem- 
ber 15, 1775, all persons within the province from six- 
teen to fifty, subscrilied, enrolled and pledged their wil- 
lingness to bear arms and march to such places within 
the province, when the convention, or the council of safe- 
ty commanded. 

The militia companies consisted of not more than 74 
privates, nor less than 50; each captain of his militia was 
to submit a muster roll to the committee of Observation. 
This roll including captains, lieutenants, ensigns number 
of non-commissioned officers and n^lvates, was forward- 



-Di — 



ed to the Council of Safety, in order that all commissions 
might be issued in the name of the convention to these 
officers. 

The militia was to meet for exercise weekly; the 
commanding officer naming the place. Conditions fre- 
quently made it necessary that the commanding officer 
had to have his company divided and exercised at differ- 
ent places. It was necessary that the entire company be 
exercised once each month. 

Every non-commissioned officer and private of the 
minute-men and militia was to appear at his place of 
muster with liis firelock and other equipments in good 
order, and to diligently and obediently attend to all in- 
structions, and perform his exercise in arms as com- 
manded. In case he should not appear, or his firearms 
were not in good order, and having no legitimate excuse, 
he was subjected to a fine not exceeding the sum of five 
shillings in common money for everv such neglect. Such 
misbehavior was to be determined by the captain, lieu- 
tenants, and ensigns or any two of them. 

Every commissioned officer having no reasonable 
excuse and failing to perform his dutv according to his 
office and station, and for the refusal of duty, shall be 
fined a sum not to exceed 15 shillings of common mon- 
ey; such misbehavior to be adjudged by other field and 
commissioned officers, or n maTor r^art of them. 

The militia continued under the organization until 
the end of 1775 at which time material changes were 
made in the militarv arrangements. 

IV. Governvient. 

That the various enactments and organizations per- 
taining to the government mav be understood it might be 
well to speak of the governing l)()dies at the close of the 
provincial organization. 

There was a short period between the awakening of 
the people and the deposing of Robert Eden, last Colo- 
nial Governor, when Maryland was really under two gov- 
ernments. The General Assembly was not dissolved, yet 
the colony resenting their rule sent representatives to 
Annapolis and formed a "Convention" which first met 
Nov. 21, 1774. This date was the time of the actual de- 
posing of the Colonial Governor, although his power was 
gone even before this. It might be well to mention that 

—58— 



Governor Eden still remained in the jjrovince after the 
supremacy had been taken out of his hands by the con- 
vention. His easy and affable manner had caused no 
alarm; for sometime before the change in the governing 
power he had been apparently neutral. But certain let- 
ters were found addressed to him from Lord Dunmore, 
who was commanding a fleet in the Cbesapeake Bay, and 
was also prominent in stirring up the tories in the lower 
part of tlie province, asking Robert Eden to hold him- 
self in readiness to assist the Crown when occasion pre- 
sented itself. General Charles Lee, into whose hands 
the letters were placed, immediately forwarded same to 
the Council of Safety at Baltimore. As the convention 
was not in session, he advised that the person and pa- 
pers of Mr. Eden be at once secured. 

Captain Smith, company commander under Major 
Gist, was sent with a detachment of the Maryland regu- 
lars for that purpose. The convention afterAvards re- 
sented this proceeding and reprimanded Cai^tain Smith 
and ordered him to return to Baltimore. At the same 
time however, considering the presence of Governor 
Eden no longer consistant with the safety of the colony, 
resolved — "Tliat it be signified to the Governor, that he 
leave his province because the public safety and quiet, 
in the judgement of this convention is required, and that 
he is at full power of liberty to depart peaceably with his 
effects, and tliat a committee of five persons be appoint- 
ed to wait on tlie Governor and deliver him copies of the 
resolutions together with an address." The house voted 
on the above resolution; Caroline's vote was as follows: 
Mr. Richardson, affirmative; Mr. Dickinson, negative; 
Mr. Mason, negative. 

Governor Eden sailed on his majesty's ship Fowey, 
June 24, 1776. Detachments of militia were placed at 
convenient posts to prevent anv communication with the 
Fowey man of war together with the ship Defence, which 
tendered her down the bay to prevent as far as possible 
any plunder or attack. 

After taking tlie governing power out of the hands 
of the Governor it became necessary to give this power 
to some governing body; for this purpose a "Maryland 
Council of Safety" was chosen by ballot. It was com- 
posed of 16 persons, eight of whom resided on the west- 
ern shore and eight on the eastern shore. This body 
was to direct and regulate the operations of the minute- 

—59— 



men and militia, providing equipment, food, regulating 
their movements from place to place, and appointing and 
commissioning field officers, together with the regulation 
of the rank of all military officers. The Council more- 
over attended to all matters of state when the Conven- 
tion was not in session and had the power to call a special 
meeting of said Convention when they deemed it neces- 
sary. 

A Local Committee was formed called the "Commit- 
tee of Observation" whose duty it was to inspect (local- 
ly) and report to the Council of Safety on the conduct 
of any who were suspected of being disloyal, also to in- 
vestigate direct charges of disloyalty. The term of of- 
fice of members of this committee was one year, begin- 
ning on day of election. 

The committee of Observation in each county was 
held responsible for every able bodied man enrolling, and 
in case they found those who failed to enroll, their names 
were forwarded to the State convention which would 
adopt measures against such persons. 

It was further ordered that each committee of Ob- 
servation, as soon as convenient after their election 
should choose by ballot five members to act as a "Com- 
mittee of Correspondence" for their country between 
the State Council and other counties. One person was 
named on each committee to act as a treasurer; receiv- 
ing all sums of money wliich was given voluntarily ; this 
to be used in encouraging the building of manufactories 
of any kind for immediate relief in the counties and arm- 
ing and defending the country. 

Their number of elections is shown in the following: 

"In September 177.j, an election was held at the court houses 
of the counties for the purpose of electing new members to the 
committee of Observation. All freeholders in the province, and 
other freeman having a visible estate of 4 pounds sterling were 
qualified to vote." 

Thus we see that the "Convention" the "Council of 
Safety," the "Committee of Observation" together with 
sub-committees formed Maryland's governing body dur- 
ing the Revolutionary period. 

Though Caroline county's people were in the main 
loyal, and did all in their power to carry out the orders 
of the province, yet Tories and other y^aid agents of the 
British Government w^rought considerable dissatisfaction 
in the minds of many well-disposed persons as will be 

—60— 



understood from tlie following extracts from the Mary- 
land Archives. 

Caroline County Sept. 17tli, 17 76. 
Sir: 

Agreeably to the requisition of tlie Convention made to the 
field officers of this county, to endeavor to get a company made up 
to march to New Yorli, I thought it necessary to convene the 2 8th 
Battalion of Militia on Saturday last for that purpose, and after 
meeting in the usual field of parade, tiie several Companies were 
drawn up, e.xcept the Company under the command of Capt. John 
P'auntleroy. I then requested he would draw up his company, who 
made me for answer, that he had but a few officers in the field and 
that he .should not draw up under me as commander of the field. 

Capt. Fauntleroy's reasons for not joining the Battalion I do 
not certainly know, but after the Battalion were dismissed, I am 
credibly informed he endeavored to see who would join against me, 
for what purpose I do not know unless to treat me ill. 

As it appears to me, Sir, that he is a disobedient officer and 
possibly was I to overlook this injury to the common cause, it 
might prove to be bad consequence, besides under these circum- 
stances my person as well as character may not be altogether safe, 
and in order sir, that peace and harmony may again take place, I 
pray that a court marshal may be appointed by your board for the 
trial of Capt. Fauntleroy in order to find out what I am to be ac- 
cused with and that he or myself may meet with the instant de- 
merits we deserve. 

I am Sir nio.st obedt Hble 6ervt. 

Benson Stainton. 

(Proceedings of Court Martial.) 

Melvill's Warehouse Nov. 16, 1776. 
In pursuance to an order from the Council of Safety bearing 
date of ISth day of September last, for the trial of Capt. John 
Fauntleroy of the twenty eight Battalion of Militia for this State, 
I appointed the sixteenth day of November 17 76, for holding a 
Court ;\!artial for the purpose and gave notice of the time and 
place for holding said Court, to all Persons concerned. And there 
was present at the time and place, 
Vincent Price 
Nathaniel Potter 
Captains John' Mitchell 

Peter Richardson 
Henry Casson. Sr. 
And after fully hearing the allegations of Col. Benson Stain- 
ton and the evidence of both sides and considering the same, the 
Court gives judgment that Capt. John Fauntleroy pay five pounds 
current money for his offense and breach of duty. 

Mat. Driver, President. 

F. Beorgcnilzation of Militia. 

At the meeting of the Convention at Annapolis, Jan. 
4, 1776, a reorganization of the militia was etfected. A 
committee had been previously appointed to "Consider 
what alterations and amendments necessary, in tlie regu- 
lations on tlie militia of this Province." 

—61— 



The report was in brief as follows: No minute men 
were to be hereafter enrolled; no companies of minute 
men were to be continued after the first day of the fol- 
lowing' March; all arms now in the possession of the 
'' minute men" to be delivered to the Committee of Ob- 
servation; every able bodied man between the ages of 
16 and 50 (with a few exceptions) not yet enrolled in the 
militia nmst do so on or before March 1, 1776. 

Following was a list of fines, punishments etc. for 
delay or disobedience and a i)lan for ofticering the new 
organization. After this Convention the "minute men" 
and "Flying Camp" were disbanded and the entire 
soldiery became militia. 

The convention having been in session on Jan. 1, 
1776 resolved that eight companies of troops, to consist 
of 68 privates under proper officers, to be formed into a 
battalion, and the remainder of the troops to ])e divided 
into companies of 100 men each. 

The following Caroline county officers were elected 
by ballot : East Battalion — Mr. William Richardson, col- 
onel ; Mr. Henry Dickinson, lieutenant-colonel; Mr. Wil- 
liam AVhitely, 1st major; Mr. Matthew Driver, 2nd 
major; Mr. John White, quartermaster. West Battalion 
— Mr. Philip Fiddeman, colonel ; Mr. Benson Stainton, 
lieutenant-colonel; Mr. Eichard Mason, 1st major; Mr. 
Henry Dowes, 2nd major ; Mr. Thos. Hardcastle, quarter- 
master. Pay of officers as follows : colonel $50 ; colonels 
expenses $30; lieutenant colonel $40, lieutenant-colonels 
expenses $20; major $33.33; captain $26; drummer and 
fifer $6; lieutenant $18; ensign $16; surgeons mate $20; 
sergeant $6.66; corporal $6; surgeon $40; chaplain $20; 
private $5.33 clerk to colonel $20; pay to other officers 
was regulated by the Council of Safety. 

That a ration consisting of one pound of beef, or 
three-quarters of a pound of pork, one pound of flour or 
bread per man per day, three pints of peas at six shill- 
ings per bushel per week, or other vegetables equivalent, 
one quart of Indian meal per week, a gill of vinegar and 
gill of molasses per man per day, a quart of cider, small 
beer or rum, per man per day, three pounds of candles 
for one hundred men per week, for guards ; twenty-four 
pounds of soft soap, or eight pounds of hard soap for one 
hundred men per week. 

Each captain was to enlist his own company and had 
the following instructions for enlisting men into the 
service : 

—62— 



1. You are to enlist no man who is not able bodied, healthy, 
and a good marcher, nor such whose attachment to the liberties of 
America you have any cause to suspect. Young hearty robust men, 
who are tied by birth, or family connectioniS or property to this 
country; and are well practiced in the use of firearms, are by 
much to be preferred. 

2. You are to have a great regard to moral character, sobri- 
ety in particular. 

3. You are not to enlist any servant imported, nor, without 
the leave of the master, any apprentice. 

4. Those who engage in the service shall be enlisted accord- 
ing to tlie form prescribed by this convention. 

A fiirtlier order indicating low finance was the fol- 
lowing : 

"To avoid a needless and insupportable expense, no person 
after the tenth day of May next, may wear any uniform at exercise, 
either in single companies or battalions, but hunting shirts, the 
cfFcers distinguishing themselves from the privates by different 
feathers, cockades, or the like as fancy may direct." 

VI. Mcetwf) the Needs of the War. 

The general idea of conservation along all lines 
seemed to be immediately taken up by the Convention. 
Early as the meeting of Dec. 8, 1774 we find the follow- 
ing recommendations : 

First, that the citizens increase tlieir flocks of sheep 
for the promotion of woolen manufacturing and to furth- 
er this tliey recommended that thereafter no sheep under 
four years of age be killed. 

The second recommendation was that the citizens in- 
crease the yn'oduction of linen and cotton by "plaating 
all they conveniently can" and recommend furthei' that 
speculators purchase no seed for exportation. 

Again in July, 1775 the Council of Safety found it 
necessary to discourage the killing of lambs, so that 
more wool might be realized ; also to enforce the produc- 
tion of flax. 

This year as well as the next two following, meant 
a period of great conservation on the i^art of the prov- 
ince. As stated before they were unprepared for war, 
not having meat, meal, clotliing, tents, firearms, or shoes 
for the soldiers ; there was apparently leather in the colo- 
nies but it was not made up into shoes, since much of tliis 
must be done by hand it was a very slow process. 

In 1777 the American Army was so greatly in need 
of clothing and blankets that collectors were aiij^ointed 
in eacli county to collect tliese necessities wlierever pos- 
sil)le. In Great Clioptank FTundred Josepli l^ichardson 

—63— 



was appointed SuperintGiident of Collections, The Gov- 
ernor and Council limited the prices to be paid as fol- 
lows : Blankets 13s ; a pair of shoes 30d ; a pair of stock- 
ings 3()d; a hat 30d; coarse woolens, fit for soldiers' 
coats, jackets or breeches -fi yd. wide 50d; linen, tit for 
soldiers' shirts, per yard, 16d. 

The food question was one of importance. How pro- 
cure rations for the soldiers ? 

Nathaniel Potter, whom we remember as one of the 
first Court justices of Caroline County, and who had 
bought and packed pork and beef for Caroline County 
companies under Col. Richardson was (1776) called u])on 
to procure, for the Province, all pork possible at 5 
pounds sterling per hundred. 

The following letter written by Isaac McHard, 
(4)uartermaster to the Council of Safety, brings to us not 
only food conservation but the necessity of salt. 

Caroline County Dec. 30th, 1776. 
Gentlemen: 

I have contracted with Mr. Potter to buy me all the Pork that 
is to be had in the county. He had engaged to salt and barrel all 
that he could get and he thinks it necessary to have salt, there- 
fore hope you will order him fifty bushels, which quantity he thinks 
he will want. I have likewise engaged with Mr. James Seth. to 
get for me all the Pork in Talbot and Queen Anne's County if he 
should want a little salt I hope you will order him a little. I don't 
know that he will want it for he has contracted to deliver it at An- 
napolis if possibly he can get it there. If he can not get it there 
from the badness of the weather it must be) salted over here and 
barreled and brought to Annapolis in the spring. Your granting 
these orders for the salt will much oblige 

Gentlemen, Your hble. Servt. 

Isaac McHard. 

N.B. Mr. Crysale will see the salt measured and will take a re- 
ceipt from the Skipper for the Quantity. 

The scarcity of salt threatened the conservation of 
meat and must be secured for that purpose. Many free- 
holders Avere reported as having large supplies of it 
stored and this led to great dissatisfaction of the people 
in need of it. Searching parties were organized who 
went out to search for these stores. 

In one case Mr. Colston of Caroline having butcher- 
ed was in great need of salt; hearing that Mr. Chamber- 
lain of Plain Dealing Talbot, had 100 bushels stored he 
sent several times to buy it but each time the}^ refused to 
sell. At last Mr. Colston had his neighbors, seventeen in 
number, go with him carrying the money and their mus- 
kets. They asked again that the salt be sold them, if not 



to open the door of the house in which tlie salt was stor- 
ed. Mr. Chamberlain's wife being the only one at home 
opened the door of the house; there they found a consid- 
erable quantity. They ordered one of Mr. CUiamberlain's 
negroes to measure out IIY^ bu. for which they paid 
$35.00. Un their return home they wrote a letter to Mr. 
Chamberlain explaining the transaction and saying they 
would pay the price he asked. This matter was brought 
to tlie attention of the Council, which took inmiediate 
steps to secure oO bus. from Talbot and Dorchester coun- 
ties. 

War conditions led to other depredations, one of 
which with its attending civic troubles we give below: 

"In great desperation for want of salt, then so scarce, Capt. 
Richard Andiew and a number of men in November, 1776, entered 
and searched the dwelling house and outhouses of James Sullivane, 
looking for salt. As they found only five bushels they did not take 
any. Then they went to Col. James Murry's on Hunting Creek 
(now known as the Billup's farm) got the keys from Mrs. Murray 
and took fourteen and one half bushels of salt. They offered to 
pay for it, but Mrs. Murray refused payment; however they left 
$14. .50 in the house." 

To punish these disorderly ]jeople the Committee of 
Observation summoned witnesses and those active in tlie 
affair, but they did not appear and a hearing was set for 
tlie following Wednesday, and wholly unexpectedly they 
came headed by Captain Andrew with more than a hun- 
dred armed men. They were so disorderly that nothing 
could be done in the matter. They declared they would 
risk their lives in defense of their acts. An appeal was 
made to the Council of Safety to have Gen. Henry Hoop- 
er's brigade of militia sent to arrest them, but consider- 
ing the need of troops elsewhere and the urgent appeals 
made by the people on the Eastern Shore for salt, then 
so scarce that some families had not a pint in months," 
it seemed that the sending of a militia into a county to 
suppress local disturbances not regarded as disloyal acts, 
might lead to serious revolts at this critical period of the 
Revolutionary conflict. 

Scarcity of saltpetre too was giving the government 
much concern. It was a necessity. Powder must be pro- 
duced for the man behind the gun. As early as July, 
1775 the Council of Safety found it necessary to encour- 
age the manufacture of saltpetre. To do this a sum not 
exceeding 1000 pounds common money was advanced on 
proper security for the erection of one or more saltpetre 

—65— 



works. This money was to be repaid in good mercliant- 
able saltpetre on or before October 1776. The manufac- 
turers were to be paid one half doHar per pound, this 
rate being fixed by the Council of Safety. 

At the same time a similar sum \vas offered for the 
erection and working of a powder-mill. Again on Dec. 
27, 1775 the Convention appropriated 1700 pounds of 
common money, each county 100 pounds to be placed in 
the hands of a discreet and active person in each county, 
called a supervisor, to be used in procuring and setting 
u}) proper kettles, tubs and necessary utensils for the 
manufacture of rough nitre. That the supervisor show 
and explain to those who attend to the work the metiiod 
and process of making crude nitre. To encourage people 
throughout the county to make nitre they offered the 
rate of two shillings common monev per pound. The 
following process was recommended by the supervisors: 
place in o])en houses, or sheds admitting air, but exclud- 
ing the rain and sun, the stalks and trashy leaves of to- 
bacco, trodden straw, the sweepings of stables mixed 
with rich mold collected from floors of barns, and from 
time to time sprinkled with brine or water ; this collec- 
tion of various substances so as to occasion the fermen- 
tation and s])eedy putrefaction thereof; that the whole 
mass when properly decayed, may be dug, stirred up and 
tlioroughly blended and thus left without further damp- 
ing so loose and ligld as to attract readily and be more 
plentifully impregnated with nitre for future use. J\lr. 
Josliua Clark was supervisor for Caroline County. 

Anotlier necessity for the army was lead. This was 
conserved to the utmost. From the Archives of Mary- 
land, 1777, the following is quotel sliowing its scarcity. 

"I have been obliged to caU upon the inhabitants here for 
their Clock W^eights, and Window Weights; we wanted lead: and 
as we have here every conveniency for making cartridges and men 
that understand it I inteaid to. make up all our powder and get all 
the Lead that I can; We have tradesmen here that understand the 
making of every military article and they are all at work." 

Folh)vving in Council of Safety I'ecords are letters 
]-elating to outfitting of soldiers. 

"Resolved that Chas. Beatley of Frederick be empowered to 
contract for the making and delivering of 650 good, substantial, 
proved mu.squets ']V2 feet in the barrel and of % of an inch in the 
bore: With good double bridle locks, black walnut or maple stocks, 
and plain strong brass mounting, bayonets with steel Ijlades, 17 
inches long, steel ramrods, douWe screws, priming wires and brush- 

—66— 



es fitted thereto, with a pair of brass molds for every SO musquets, 
to cast 12, bullets on one side and on the other to cast shot of such 
size as the musquet will chamber three of them; for a sum not ex- 
ceeding $10.66 in bills of credit issued by the Resolutions of the 
last Convention." 

TV. Later Or(jmiizaiU)u of Militia. 

Ill 1777 tlie militia of Caroline County was continued 
in two battalions, one east of and the other west of the 
Clioptank River. In each battalion were eight compa- 
nies, and each company was made up of about 75 men. 

William AVhitely was commander-in-chief of the 
militia of the county — both battalions — and had the rank 
of Colonel. Matthew Driver was next in command as 
Lieutenant-Colonel and Nathaniel Potter served as Maj- 
or. 

Upon these men, evidently, devolved the important 
duty of prepariui*: plans for the enrollment of all able 
bodied men of military age, as well as being directly re- 
sponsible to the state Council of Safety for the execu- 
tion of all orders handed down from the Continental 
Congress and the State Council. 

After a close inspection of the names of eligibles, 
about 1200 men were found to compose the militia of this 
period. The location of the Captains and men of the 
various companies was about as follows : East LUdtation : 
1st Company including the Harmony and American Cor- 
ner's section, Caj)tain Joseph Richardson; 2nd Coni])aiiy, 
Concord and Smitliville neighborhood. Captain John 
Mitchell; ord Company, Chestnut Grove and Federals- 
burg territory, Captain Nehemiah Andrew; 4th Coin]i- 
any, Preston Section, Captain Joseph Douglass; 5th 
Company, Friendship and linchester communities, Cap- 
tain Richard Andrew; 6th Company, Burrsville section, 
Captain John Stafford; 7th Company, Chilton, Garey's 
and Denton neighborhoods, Captain Andrew Fountain; 
8th Company, Williston and Andersontown communities. 
Captain Shadrach Lyden. West Battalion : 1st Coni])any 
Boonsboro and Oakland regions. Captain William Hoop- 
er; 2nd Company, Lower Tuckahoe Neck section, Capt. 
Vincent Price ; 3rd Company, Hillsboro and Upper Tuck- 
alioe Neck, Capt. Henry Downes; 4th Com]iany, region 
around Greensboro, east side of river perhaps, Capt. 
William Haslett; 5th Company, territory around Greens- 
boro, toward Goldsboro and Bridgetown, Capt. Thomas 
Hughlett; 6th Com])any, along Tuckahoe Creek and 

—67— 



Bridgetown, Capt William Cliipley; 7tli Company, from 
Jackson 's residence near old Town Branch to the Cnl- 
bretli Section, north east of Goldsboro, Captain Samnel 
Jackson ; 8th Company from Castle Hall toward Bee Tree 
and Keene's Cross Roads, Capt. John Fanntleroy. 

As reported the East Side Battalion consisted of 615 
men while in the West Batallion were 585 men. 

Somewhat later dnrino- the war Henry Dickinson 
enrolled for the connty a company of Light Horsemen, 
abont 15 in nnmber. However, there is no record of this 
Comi^any having gone into service. 



-68- 




jer-wheel, Flint, and Tinder 





m 




—69— 



CAROLINE'S MILITARY ACTIVITIES. 



In the same year that Caroline county was organ- 
ized England closed the port of Boston. This greatly 
incensed the colonists of Maryland, and the counties at 
once held meetings expressing their indignation at the 
proceeding. At Caroline's meeting (Melvill's Ware- 
house, June 18, 1774) resolutions were adopted of which 
we may well be proud. A full copy of those may be found 
elsewhere in this volume. 

The resolutions provided that delegates be appoint- 
ed from each colony to meet in a general congress to 
settle and establish a general plan of conduct. Other 
counties otTering the same resolutions, resulted in the 
Continental Congress, first proposed by Maryland, which 
met in Philadeli)lna, September 1774. 

The resolutions named Thos. Wliite, William Rich- 
ardson, Isaac Bradley, Nathaniel Bradley, Benson Stain- 
ton, and Tliomas Cxoldsborough as delegates to attend a 
general meeting of the province in Annapolis, which 
meeting, held December 8, authorized the organization of 
a well regulated militia to be in readiness to act in any 
emergency. A later meeting (April, '75) gave full pow- 
er to delegates for the Second Continental Congress to 
agree to all measures which they should deem neces- 
sary and effectual to obtain a redress of American griev- 
ances, and the province bound themselves to execute to 
the utmost of their power all resolutions thus adopted. 

It was during this convention that news reached the 
province of the massacre at Lexington. Maryland, ready 
to do her part, resolved to organize forty companies of 
minute-men to go to the assistance of her sister colo- 
nies should occasion arise. One of these companies was 
to be furnished by Caroline County. This company 
was to consist of strong, able-bodied men living conve- 
niently that they might be drilled together. The men 
were required to sign a contract expressing their will- 
ingness to bear arms and fight in their own and neigh- 
boring colonies at such time as the Council of Safety 
should connnand. Wliile we find no record of this com- 
pany being called into active service, we do know that 
they were organized and drilled for the emergency. 

The Council of Safety, formed July, 1775, was com- 
posed of sixteen men, eight of whom lived on either 

—70— 



shore of the province. The council was to direct and 
regulate the operations of the minute men and militia, 
provide equipment and food, re^ilate their movements, 
appoint and commission field officers, and regulate the 
rank of all military officers. During" the intermission 
of the Convention of Delegates, the council was to have 
authority to act in their place in case of emergency. 

Up until this time such fighting arms as were need- 
ed in the colony had been ])urcliased from England. That 
source being cut off, there was difficulty in procuring 
enough to supply the need. Men having firearms of 
their own used them, and to supply the remainder of the 
Minute Men, the Committee of Observation in each 
county collected those not in use until others could be 
provided by the province. This lack of equi])ment caus- 
ed considerable anxiety and delay in the organization 
and drilling of troops. 

In January, 177(), the convention decided for the 
better protection of the colony that additional militia be 
formed and that after March first the minute men be 
disorganized. In June of the same year Washington's 
appeal for more men was received and the Maryland 
Convention ordered the organization of a "flying camp" 
of 3405 men of the militia. These men, who were to 
serve with the militia of Pennsylvania and Delaware 
from Maryland fo New York inclusive, now became part 
of the regular army and agreed to serve until December 
first, unless previou-ly discharged by Congress. 

At this time William Richardson was colonel of the 
east battalion of the Caroline county militia and a mem- 
ber of the convention from the same county. In August, 
upon the resignation of James Kent as Colonel of the 
Eastern Shore Battalion of the Maryland Flying Camp, 
Richardson was chosen for this important commission. 
His battalion was composed of seven companies from 
the various counties with fi44 men in all. Captains of 
these companies were: 

John Deen and Jolm I ^]] rie_s — Queen Anne's. 

Greenbury Goldsl)orough — Talbot. 

Joseph Richardson and Pliilip Fiddeman — Caroline. 

Tliomps Burke — Dorchester. 

John Oblevee — Cecil. 

These officers were ordered by the Council to or- 
ganize and exercise their men and report to Colonel 
Richardson for marching orders. The colonel had or- 

—71 — 



ders to march liis companies to Elizabeth Town, New 
Jersey, there to join with other troops under the com- 
mand of General Smallwood. 

In enlisting their men, the captains were given these 
instructions : 

1. You are to enlist no man who is not able bodied, healthy, 
and a good marcher, nor such whose attachment to the liberties of 
America you have any cause to suspect. Young, hearty robust men, 
who are tied by birth, or family connections or property to this 
country: and are well practised in the use of fire-arms, are by much 
to be preferred. 

2. You are to have great regard to moral cnaracter, sobriety 
in particular. 

3. You are not to enlist any servant imported, nor, without 
the leave of the master, any apprentice. 

4. Those who engage in the service shall be enlisted accord- 
ing to the form prescribed by this convention. 

Their rations consisted of one pound of beef, or three quarters 
of a pound of pork, one pound of flour or bread per man per day, 
three pints of peas at six shillings per bushel per week, or other 
vegetables equivalent, one quart of Indian meal per week, a gill of 
vinegar and a gill of molasses per man per day, a quart of cider, 
small beer, or a gill of rum, per man per day, three pounds of can- 
dles for one hundred men per week, for guards; twenty-four pounds 
of soft soap, or eight pounds of hard soap for one hundred men per 
week. 

Lack of tents, clothing and fire-arms delayed the 
organization of troops. There w^as also difficulty in 
transporting the men and supplies, but on September 8, 
Colonel Richardson and his men joined the army at Eliz- 
abeth, New Jersey. 

On September 16, Richardson's regiment had a 
chance to prove their fighting ability. Three hundred 
of the British having appeared in the plains below the 
American position at Harlem Heights, Washington oj-- 
dered an attack. The British were reinforced with 700 
men and to strengthen the American forces, Washing- 
ton ordered up Major Price with three of the Maryland 
Independent Companies, and Richardson's and Griffith's 
battalions of the flying camp. These men attacked with 
bayonet and drove the enemy from their position, pur- 
suing them until the general ordered their recall. (A 
full account of this encounter will be found in McSher- 
ry's History of Maryland, pages 204-210). 

Washington in his letter to Congress, dated Sep- 
tember 18, 1776, gives the following account of the 
charge of the ^Maryland soldiers: 

—72— 



"These troops charged the enemy with great intrepidity, and 
drove them from the wood into the plain, and were pushing them 
from thence, having silenced their fire in a great measure, when I 
judged it prudent to order a retreat, fearing the enemy, as I have 
since found was really the case, were sent in a large body to sup- 
port their party." 

Colonel Tench Tilgliman, one of AVashington's staff, 
in a letter from Harlem Heights, dated September 19th, 
1776, says : 

"The general (Washington) finding they wanted support, or- 
dered over part of Colonel Griffith's and Colonel Richardson's Mary- 
land regiments, these troops, though young, charged with as much 
bravery as I can conceive; they gave two fires and then rushed 
right forward which drove the enemy from the wood into a buck- 
wheat held, from whence they letreated." 

General Washington, knowing that he conld rely 
npon the Marylander's in his army, often chose them for 
posts of danger. He evinced no want of confidence, and 
often acted as if in command of veteran troops whose 
resolution he had tried and on whom he could rely. They 
were the first who met face to face with fixed bayonets, 
the veteran legions of British regulars; and no troops 
poured out their blood more freely for the common 
cause than those of Maryland. No troops behaved more 
steadily. ''The gallantry of the Southern men," as the 
adjutant-general said, in speaking of these troops, "has 
inspired the whole army." 

On December 1, 1776 the flying camp was discharged 
in accordance with the agreement upon enlisting. Con- 
gress, realizing that men whose enlistments were for so 
brief a ])eriod would never become used to discii)line to 
the degree needed for firmness in action, decided to en- 
list men as regulaTs. The colonies agreed to this and 
Maryland at once started raising her quota of eight bat- 
talions. These reorganized troops became known as the 
"Maryland Line." 

From this time on to the close of the war it is im- 
possible to distinguish the military service of the men of 
the various counties. Wo find no evidence of the re- 
cruits of each county being in one company. It seems 
most probable that they were distributed as needed and 
old officers retained as far as possible. 

William "Richardson remained colonel of what be- 
came known as the 5tli Regiment of the Maryland Line, 
and was actively engaged in suppressing tory rebellions 
in the lower part of the Eastern Shore. These increas- 

—73— 



ing disturbances were partly caused by George III grant- 
ing pardon to any of his subjects who woukl join his 
forces and also by an organization known as The Asso- 
ciation of Loyalists of America. This association was 
authorized to employ "his majesty's faithful subjects 
for the purpose of annoying the sea coasts of the re- 
volted provinces, and distressing their trade." Large 
numbers of tories were enrolled on the Eastern Sbore 
who robbed and murdered the residents especially of 
Somerset, Worcester and Sussex county in Delaware. 

The families of men killed in the Continental Ser- 
vice were pensioned through the county court. One ex- 
ample is given here : 

Tne court orders that Susannah C , widow of William 

C who sometime since died in the Continental Service, be 

allowed for the support of her two children this year (1779) 30£ 
current money. 

A complete list of Caroline's Revolutionary soldiers 
has ne\'er been found. We give here the company that 
served under Captain Richardson in the flying camp. 
Although no enlistments of Captain Philip Fiddeman's 
company can be found, his company was raised and 
marched to Philadelphia. 

First Caroline C>)ni|»aii.v of the Eastei'ii Shore Battalion. 

Captain Joseph Richardson 

1st. Lieutenant Thomas Wyer Lockerman 

2nd. Lieutenant Levin Handy 

Ensign Philip Casson ( resigned ) 

Surgeon's Mate Zabdiel Potter 

PRIVATES. 

Andrew Price William Walker 

Thomas Comerford .John Hobbs 

Massy Fountain Ellis Thomas 

John Webb John Diragin (Duregin) 

William Brown Zadock Harvey 

John Kanahan Jarirs (or Jervis) Willis 

Edward Hardin Robert Waddle 

Perry Gannon James McQuallity 

John Needles Thomas Scoudrick 

William Hobbs William Allcock 

John McKinney John Ritchee (Richee) 

Silas Parrott William Sharp 

Michael Walker William Clark 

John Hughs Joseph Thomas 

Robert Thomas William Foster 

Zebdial Billiton John Froume 

Alex Robbs William Willin 

Cornelius Morris George aHndy 

Hughlett Conner Thomas Merrill 

—74— 



Isaac Duncan 
Thomas Vaine 
John Ford 
James Tannei* 
Benj. Caulk 
William Cook 
John Carter 
John Turner 
John Cohee 
John Vaine 
AVilliani Cooper 
Samuel Hopkins 
Elijah Taylor (Tyler) 
Elijah Clark 
Henry Willis ' 



John Thomas 
Andrew Willis 
John Ryan 
John Selby Martin 
John Reed 
James Haven 
William Dorman 
John Benston 
Charles Roach 
Fredrick Barnicassle 
William Hosier 
George Martin 
Jesse Parker 
Charles Richardson 
Isaac Broughten 



—75— 



COLONEL WILLIAM RICHARDSON. 

(1735-1825). 

(3f the many famous men in Caroline's early days 
none stand out more prominently than William Richard- 
son, for, besides his military activity durino- the Revolu- 
tion, to him more than anyone else Caroline owes her 
existence as a countv. 



.ap[ pj ii^jAW.^.M;kaj^^'«Tf ^isjg^^ 




DAIRY AT GILPIN'S POINT. 

(Richardson's home place.) 

William Richardson, ])orn 1735, was the son of Wil- 
liam and Ann Webb Richardson, (j)nakers of Tall)ot 
county, Imt in early manhood move<l to Dorchester, where 
lie owned laro-o tracts of land. It was while he was a 
member of the General Assembly from that county in 
1773 that he presented a bill which provided for forming 
Caroline from Dorchester and (()neen Anne's counties. 
The l)ill was passed and in March 1774 Caroline county 
was or.o'anized with. Ricliardson as one of its original 
commissioners. 

He became a member of the ]\Iaryhind Convention of 
Delegates from Caroline at the January session of 1776, 



-76- 



wliicli position he resigned in Angnst of the same year 
npon being eomniissionod Colonel of the Eastern Shore 
Battalion of the Maryland Flying Camp, In this posi- 
tion Colonel Richardson became a man of Continental 
importance, serving his conntry in this way for over 
three years. His regiment first saw active service at 
Harlem tieights, and so well did they acquit themselves 
that General Washington commended their bravery. 

When the men of the flying camp were discharged 
(Dec. 1776) Richardson continued as colonel in a bat- 
talion of re-enlisted men known as the "Fifth Regiment 
of the Maryland Line." From that time until the close 
of the war, much of his activity seems to have been con- 
fined to the lower section of the Eastern Shore and Del- 
aware. One example of this service is given here. Dur- 
ing the month of February 1777, Colonel Richardson 
was sent with such of the militia and his own regulars 
as he thought necessary to assist in suppressing the 
tories in Somerset and Worcester counties. Something 
of the success of his expedition may be gathered from 
the following letter from the Council of Safety to Col- 
onel Richardson : 

Annapolis, Feb. 19, 1777. 
Sir, 

We Inxve tlie lionor of transmiting to you tlie tlianks of tlie 
General Assembly of this state for your spirited conduct in march- 
ing your Battalion of Militia in order to assist General Hooper in 
quelling the insurrection in Somerset and Worcester Counties. 

With the greatest respect and regards. 

Sir, your most Obedient Servant, 

The Council of Safety. 

The same year he was appointed clerk of the county 
court, but soon found his other duties so pressing that 
he deputized John Baker to act for him. When the 
British made their attack upon Philadelphia in Decem- 
ber of 1777, Colonel Richardson was commissioned to re- 
move the Continental Treasury to Baltimore. This con- 
sisted of such notes and specie as the Continental Con- 
gress had on hand for sup]ilying the needs of the prov- 
inces. 

In '78 he was a member of the convention to ratify 
the Constitution of the United States. From 1789-179*3 
he was Presidential elector in the college that elected 
Washington president. Another prominent position in 
his later life was the treasurer-sliip of the Eastern 



Shore, an office which he held at the time of his death in 
Jnly 1825. 

Although not a man of great wealth Richardson 
lived in such luxury as was the custom in his generation. 
Upon his plantation, known as Gilpin Point, situated on 
the Choptank river, stood his family mansion, store 
house, granary, blacksmith and carpenter shops, and oth- 
er outbuildings. Like all such estates at that time Gil- 
pin Point resembled a little village in itself. In times 
of peace gay crowds assembled there, for Richardson 
was famous for his hospitality; in times of war, supplies 
were sent tliere from Annapolis and Baltimore to be 
distributed among the various companies of the Colo- 
nel's regiment. 

Wliile a young man, William Richardson married 
Elizabeth Green. Their family consisted of six children, 
namely William, Thomas, Daniel Peter, Joseph, Mary, 
and Ann Webb. Mrs. Richardson, Thomas and Mary, 
who had married James Price of Easton, died before the 
Colonel. The other daughter, Ann Webb, became the 
wife of William Potter of Potter's Landing. 

In the days before the Revolution, Richardson own- 
ed part interest in a sloop, "The Omega," which is said 
to have carried cargoes of parched corn to the AVest In- 
dies. On return trips quantities of coral stone were 
brought as ballast and from these stones his slaves built 
a wall surrounding his home. 

Along with considerable evidence as to Col. Rich- 
ardson's being interested in ocean shipping and trad- 
ing, the following story taken from the life of Commo- 
dore Joshua Barney may be of interest here: 

Capt. Barney noted for his privateering during tlie Revolution- 
ary War liad been captured, talcen to England and lodged in Mill 
Prison at Plymouth in the year 17 SI. Upon escaping, he managed 
to get to the home of a friend, a minister, in the town and there 
met two farmer friends, Col. Wm. Richardson and Dr. Hindman of 
hte Eastern Shore of Maryland. These men had gone over on a 
merchant vessel and upon its being captured, were waiting for an 
opportunity to return to America. Richardson and Hindman en- 
gaged a fishing smack and Barney agreed to carry them to France 
where they could easily find a way home. Changing his uniform 
for a fisherman's suit, Barney placed his two friends in the cabin 
of the boat and set sail across the Englieh Channel. After being 
out a few hours, the boat was overhauled by an English guard and 
taken back to Plymouth over a boisterous sea which for several 
hours had kept our Col. Richardson a prisoner in the hull of the 
boat and suffering from eeasicTcness. Upon reaching Plymouth, 
however, Richardson and Hindman who had committed no wrong 
were released while Barney was again put in prison. 

—78— 



Parts of tlio old coral wall, a brick dairy, and the 
fast cnniibliii,i>- tomb of Caroline's most illustrious sol- 
dier are all that now remain at Gilpin Point to remind 
present Carolineans of her orii>inal sponsor. 




TOMB OF WILLIAM RICHARDSON. 
Gilpin Point. 



—79— 



COLONEL WILLIAM WHITELY. 



The time of William Wliitely's leaving- Delaware 
and coming to Maiylaml is not definitely known but w^e 
do know that when the first gun of the Revolution was 
fired, April 19, 1775 he was a citizen of Caroline County, 
well established, of some note and ready to take up arms 
in defense of his country. 

He at once became active in tlie military organiza- 
tion for the defense of his country and the subjugation 
of tories; and entered the Eastern Shore militia where 
he was immediately made Lieutenant. 

That he was probably in active service with the 
Maryland Line is shown by a report (1776) of Col. Wm. 
Richardson who says, — -"Col. Whitely will set off on 
Monday next and I hope will head the first Division of 
our Batallion at Philadelphia." 

His most important military position, however, was 
that of Commander-in-chief of the Militia of Caroline 
County. As Commander-in-chief it was his business to 
see that all male citizens between the ages of sixteen and 
fifty were enrolled in the militia and drilled for service. 
This position was much more important than would seem 
to us at the present day, and for a youth in his early 
twenties it was certainly a responsible one. His Revo- 
lutionary work continued in some capacity throughout 
the war and was productive of much good both for liis 
state and nation. 

After the close of the war he left the military field 
and soon became prominent in politics, taking part in 
the many meetings called at Hillsboro and Denton prior 
to the War of 1812. Among these was the remonstrance 
meeting held at Denton relative to the Chesapeake-Leop- 
ard trouble at which Whitely acted as chairman, and was 
voted a member of the Committee of Correspondence 
wliicli was *' Empowered by the meeting to represent 
Caroline in any subsequent measures taken by her sister 
counties in vindication of the national honor." Later 
he became (1811) senator from this district and was a 
co-worker with Culbreth. signing the remonstrance 
against the compensation Bill of 1816. 

iVlways a staunch Democrat, he continued for some 
time after this in local politics, acting as a member of 
Democratic Caucuses aud chairman of important com- 

—80— 



mittees, etc. ; but when a comparatively young' man he 
withdrew entirely from public life. 

While .si)eakini;' of William Whitely as a military 
man and a prominent citizen we must not forget to land 
him as a member of his innnediate vicinity. 

His wealth made liim a prominent figure of his day. 
His holdings included 1500 acres immediately surround- 
ing Whitelysburg, $30,000 in stocks as well as a number 
of minor possessions while the ownership of 30 pieces of 
solid silver table service indicates his mode of living. 

Yet he was a liberal supporter of all religious work, 
giving freely to such causes and with his family was a 
regular attendant of the Presbyterian Church then or- 
ganized in (Ireensboro. Of this church he was one of the 
founders as well as a member of the first Board of Trus- 
tees. 

His religion was practical as was evidenced by the 
readiness and generosity with which he extended a help- 
ing hand to his friends. 

Col. Whitely retiring entirely from ])ublic life at a 
comparatively early age, returned to Delaware from 
whence the family came, and there he died, Aug. 15, 1816 
aged 63 years. 

He has gone! Death took him. The Whitely man- 
sion is gone, fire destroyed it many years ago. His tomb 
alone remains, a colonial structure in the Whitely bury- 
ing ground which marks his last resting place. The tomb 
is covered by a marlile slab inscribed with his name and 
a beautiful tribute. 



-81- 




WILLUW GROVE HOME OF 



MATTHEW DRIVER. 



Probably the best preserved example of Colonial 
architecture to be found in Caroline County is "The 
Willows," onetime home of Matthew Driver, situated in 
the Greensboro district and now owned by T. C. Hor- 
sey. One can scarcely enter its massive doorways or 
look at its colonial architecture without visioning the 
days when ''neisfhbors dropped in to spend a week or 
two." 

No definite date is given of the entrance of the 
Drivers into this territory, but in 1774 when the initial 
Court of our county was held, Matthew Driver had 
achieved enough prominence to be appointed Justice of 
this Court, then hehl at Melvill's warehouse. 

This position he retained during the years of the 
Revolution and in 1776, in jmrsuance of the order of the 
Council of Safetv he acted as president of a Court-Ma r- 
tial held at Melvill's Warehouse. 

June 24, 1777 he received his commission as Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of Stafford's Company 14th Battalion of 
Militia in Caroline Countv, and later we find him cor- 



-82- 



responding' with the Council of Safety relative to ap- 
pointment of officers for a new Company of Militia in 
Caroline and signing himself as Matthew Driver, Com- 
mander of the 14th Battalion of Militia. 

That he was a man of means is shown by the fact 
of his ownerslii]) at the time of his death of six large 
tracts of land including Willow Grove, his home estate, 
over £2000 Stirling in money, 24 slaves, stock and oth- 
er valuable holdings. 

Little else is definitely known of him but as his rec- 
ord shows he was a typical gentleman of his day and left 
an unspotted name. 



-83- 




—84— 



THE POTTERS OF POTTERS LANDING. 



If you should visit Williston, the lari^e brick man- 
sion there would undoubtedly attract your attention. If 
you asked the history of the liouso and its owners, this 
is the story you would be told. 

About the middle of the eii^'hteenth century Zabdiel 
Potter, a sea cajjtain from Rhode Island, settled at this 
place, building for his honu' a small brick house. Beinsf 
an enterprising man, he soon nmde the place a point of 
commercial importance on the upper Choptank. In his 
honor the settlement became known as "Potter's Land- 
ing'." Boats bound for Baltimore left the Landing laden 
with cargoes of tobacco and on return trips brought such 
supplies as the colonists had to import. While on a sea 
voyage in 1761, Ca])tain Potter died leaving a widow and 
two sons. 

Nathaniel, the elder of the sons, inherited the home 
place known as P]iili])s Range. During the Revolution 
lie became a prominent tigure in the country. From 
1774 to 1776 he served in the Maryland Conventions, 
was Justice of the Orphans' Court and first major in 
Staffords Company of Militia. In December '76, Isaac 
McHard, who was appointed to collect food supplies in 
the province, engaged Maj. Potter to collect, salt, and 
barrel all the pork he could procure for use in the army. 
So successful was Maj. Potter in this, that in '78 lie was 
appointed Caroline agent for jnirchasing provisions for 
the army. Two years after the close of the war he died 
leaving a wi<low but no children. The home at Potter's 
Landing he willed to his only brother. 

This brotlier, Zabdiel Potter 2iid, was a ])racticiiig 
physician in the county at the outbreak of the Revolu- 
tion. He was commissioned cai)tain of the first Caro- 
line company of the flying camp, but resigned to become 
surgeon's mate that he might utilize his medical skill 
where it was so greatlv needed. 

Dr. Potter died in '1739 and, like his father, left two 
sons of whom Caroline is justly proud. In his will he 
expressed a desire that these sons should engage in 
trade together, but Xathaniel, the elder, preferred to 
follow his father's profession. He graduated in medi- 
cine at the University of Pennsylvania, and later be- 
came a member of the faculty of the TTuiversity of Mary- 
land, which position he held until his death in 1843. 

—85— 



William, the younger son, became a merchant in 
Denton. He married Ann Webb, dausrhter of Colonel 
William Richardson. For four years (1797, '98, '99 and 
1804) he represented Caroline in the lower House of the 
Assembly. In 1806 he became director for our county 
of the newly established branch of the Farmer's Bank 
at Annapolis in Easton. 

In 1809 he retired from business and returned to 
Potter's Landing, where he had the year previous com- 
pleted the main building of the present mansion. Here 
he probably ex])ected to spend the rest of his life in 
farming, which seems to have been his chief delight, but 
the War of 1812 changed these plans. During this con- 
flict he became Brigadier-General of the Maryland Mili- 
tia. General Potter three times served on the Gover- 
nor's Council and in the years 1816 and 1831, being the 
first named, was next to the governor in state adminis- 
tration. 

In the rear of the mansion two marble slabs bear 
t.Kose inscriptions • 

"Sacred to the memory of Ann W. Potter who departed this life 
12th of Sept. 1S36, Aged 64 years." 

"General William Potter who departed this life Nov. 25, 1847 
in the 7 6th year of his age." 

A few years after the death of General Potter, his 
sons liaving died and his daughters married, the prop- 
erty at Potter's Landing was purchased by Colonel John 
Arthur Willis. During the Civil War four companies of 
the First Eastern Shore Regiment of Maryland Volun- 
teers were raised at Potter's Landing, it having been 
Colonel Willis who initiated the formation of this regi- 
ment. In later years the name of Potter Town was 
clianged to Williston in memory of the Colonel and his 
family. 

Potter's Landing was for over a century the lead- 
ing shipping port of Caroline countv. During the lives 
of General Potter and Colonel Willis lines of sailing 
vessels plied lietween this wharf and Baltimore, and un- 
til the close of the last century, travel between that city 
and tlie central i)art of Caroline was entirely by boats, 
all of which sto])])ed at tliis landing. The wharf is still 
used by the farmers of the neighl)orliood as a shipping 
point for tlieir freight. 

—86— 




.«•,«<««,«>.«.«» «. «.,-»»%«„,. 



!l! 




^i-^ 



j« 




r 








• *« 



Flax, Fiax. Basket, ri^sx rteii-hsus 




—87— 



LIFE IN CAROLINE FOLLOWING THE REVOLU- 
TION. 



Some idea of the general condition of Caroline coun- 
ty following the Revolutionary War may be obtained 
from a survey of the Tax Record for the year 1783. At 
this time about one-third of the county was reported as 
being in a state of cultivation besides 66 acres of meadow 
land and the balance uncleared. The population was 
about two-fifths as large as at present, hence there was 
quite as much cleared land in proportion to the inhabi- 
tants then as now. 

Cleared farm land, on the average, was assessed at 
about $5 per acre, the wooded land about half as much. 
At this time there were recorded 290 slaves between {he 
ages of 8 and 14 years. These were assessed at £25 
(about .+100 each). The 334 male slaves between the ages 
of 14 and 45 years were given a valuation of £70 ($300) 
each, while tlie 266 female slaves between 14 and 36 
years of age were assessed at £60 ($250) each. 

In addition to slaves, the personal property assess- 
ed consisted of silver plate, horses, oxen, and black cat- 
tle. There were returned as assessed 3750 horses in the 
county and 7946 black cattle, besides considerable silver- 
ware. The total assessment of real and personal prop- 
erty amounted to £247,000 or slightly over $1,000,000. 
It is clear, however, that i)roperty was assessed very 
low then in com])arison with our modern idea of values. 

Without any intention of being personal a few of 
the largest individual assessments will, perhaps, give the 
reader a clearer idea of the larger land lioldings at that 
time. 

Tliomas Goldsborough, at ( )ld Town, was assessed 
with 1148 acres of land of which 400 acres were cleared. 
In addition a grist mill and personal propertv brought 
the total assessment to £2630, about $12,000. 

Thomas Hardcastle, at Castle Hall, about 1800 acres. 

Benjamin Silvester, Oakland, 1200 acres. 

William Whitely, 1500 acres. 

Henry Dickinson, 1800 acres. 

William Ennals, 2500 acres. 

William Frazier, 1400 acres. 

James Murrav, 2800 acres. 

Zabdiel Potter, 1012 acres. 

—88— 



William RicliaiMlsoii, 795 acres. 

It will be iiii(lei\st()0(l, of course, that the above nam- 
ed persons were among- the most prominent and weal- 
thy in the county at that time. The rate of taxation Avas 
about one eightieth (1/80) of the assessed value or $1.25 
per hundred dollars. 

Before the lievolution tliere were in the county only 
about six or eight brick buildings. In the twenty years 
following the war, this number increased to approxi- 
mately thirty. The reason for this increase may be ex- 
plained in the following way. 

The early settlers in this section had been thrifty 
folk, working hard and living simply. Their labors had 
been rewarded by flourishing cro]js of tobacco which 
brought a splendid price in England. With the organi- 
zation of the county there was a natural im])etus to use 
this acquired wealth for the erection of more comfort- 
able and permanent dwellings, but the close-following 
war delayed these plans. With the close of the war, 
however, these people as citizens of a republic felt new 
power within themselves. The hard, thrifty lives, no 
longer necessary, men at once started to make such 
changes in their mode of living as their financial condi- 
tions warranted. 

The houses built during this ])eriod were substan- 
tially constructed and of similar design. The main build- 
ings, three stories higii with gabled roofs, had a lower 
wing built at the side wliich was sometimes of frame 
rather than brick. Tlie walls were about eighteen inch- 
es thick, the massive doors of diagonal timber. So sub- 
stantially constructed were these mansions, they might 
have been used as forts in time of seige. Many of them 
have nobly withstood their worst enemy. Father Time, 
but others have been forced to yield to other enemies — 
fire and neglect. To better preserve these worthy struc- 
tures, some of them have been covered with cement. 

Mv, Tublis, in his chapter on Caroline County in Co- 
lonial Eastern Shore, speaking of Cedarhurst and D-if- 
fin House, says what is true of all these dwellings: 

"The doors, mantles and interior woodwork of these houses 
speak eloquently of the consummate art of the olden-time carpen- 
ters and joiners." 

The broad winding stairways found in many of these 
houses are no less tributes to their makers' art. 

—89— 



With the completion of these tine homes a gay social 
life sprang np in the county. Such houses were well 
adapted to the house parties, dances, and quilting par- 
ties popular in the early 1800 's. In winter the social 
and political life at Annai)olis attracted many of the 
well-to-do people of the county, while in milder seasons 
fox-hunting, horse racing, and other outdoor s])orts were 
indulged in at home. 

But life was not all merry making. The ]jlanters, 
though they usually employed overseers, daily rode over 
their ])lantations to superintend the work of slaves in 
the fields, shops, and stables. On some of the planta- 
tions we find records of stores having been kept. The 
women, beside managing the household affairs, dii'ected 
the spinning, weaving, knitting, and making of slaves' 
clothes. The actual work was sometimes done by the 
slaves, but ofteuer l)y women living in the neighboring 
villages and on small farms. An old account book from 
a plantation store credits a certain widow with knitting 
3 pairs of men's and 2 pairs of women's stockings and 
weaving .')0 yards of toe linen. The same widow is fur- 
ther credited "By making Billy's breeches." 

Tn the absence of pulilic schools, cliildren were taught 




WEAVING. 

—90— 



at home by their motliers or in small private schools on 
the plantations. When the boys were old enough they 
were sent away to school; the girls stayed at home, for 
folks in those days thought it better for them to be good 
housewives than scholars. 

The people during these years lived well. The 
smoke houses were filled with home-cured meats, while 
fertile fields supplied wheat, corn, and other necessary 
foodstuffs. The neighboring woods and rivers offered a 
supply of wild game, fish, crabs and oysters in season. 
From ])eaches and apples, pressed in copper stills, bran- 
dy was made. 

Wheat bread was not commonly used. Except in the 
wealthiest families, corn bread was the custom. John- 
ny cake, made of corn meal, and plate cake of wheat 
flour baked on wooden boards set upon the hearth, seem 
to have been the favorite breads of the time. Tradition 
has it that so weary did the people become of corn bread 
that gradually the wheat acreage increased. 

It is interesting to note the clothing worn by people 
of means at this time. The men wore tight fitting coats, 
cut to display their fancy waistcoats, knee breeches fast- 
ened with silver buckles, long light-colored silk hose, and 
low black shoes with silver buckles. For riding heavy 
boots replaced these shoes. Their soft linen shirts had 
pleated frills and were fastened at the wrist with silver 
buttons. 

The women, not to be outdone by the men, wore gay 
colored silks with narrow low-neck bodies and long full 
skirts. Their shoes were dainty, low cut pumps which 
sometimes boasted high red heels. Of such splendid ma- 
terial were the clothes of that time made and so lasting 
the styles, we often find single pieces or entire outfits 
willed from one generation to another. 

A simpler form of life was lived in the small frame 
houses dotting the villages and countryside. In these 
houses the kitcliens with tlieir broad fireplaces were the 
family living rooms. Over these fires the meals were 
cooked, near their warmth the spinning done, and by 
their clierry light during the long winter evenings the 
tired family rested after the labors of the day. 

These houses were meagerly furnished. Except for 
an odd piece or two, the furniture was made by the men 
of the family. Wooden or pewter plates, spoons and 
bowls were used upon the tables. The iron pots, ket- 

—91— 



ties, boiiiiiiy mortars, and eaiulle molds were so lii<>'lily 
prized as to be mentioned in the wills of their owners. 
Even n|)on the large ))hintations, cliina was rarely used 
until in later years. 





CANDLE MAKING. 

The clothing of these folk was coarse, especially in 
comparison with the silks and linens used by tlie proper- 
oiis planters' families. With the organization of Meth- 
odist societies, many of the women adopted the plain full 
dress and broad brimmed bonnets of that sect. 

It is from these sturdy ])eople tliat Caroline is large- 
ly p(>])nlated now. Many of the prominent old families 
have no lineal descendants living within her borders. 
Their former mansions are left to an uncertain fate, 
their family burying grounds unkept, their very names 
almost unknown. 

(An account of tlie ])olitical conditions about tliis 
period may be found under tlie Life of Thomas Cul- 
bretli, given elsewhere in this l)ook.) 



—92— 




"^^*;?sl 



-93— 



EARLY BRICK DWELLINGS IN CAROLINE. 



During the early period of Caroliii:^ county's his- 
tory there were a number of pretentious brick dwellings 
erected within her borders. Indeed somo even antedate 
the formation of the county, having been built previous 
to the Revolutionary War. Nearly all of these houses 
were designed alike — a large main building with a low 
wing extending at the side or rear. Tradition has it 
that the bricks used in their construction were brought 
here from England, but there is strong evidence against 
this being altogether true. In the first place, English 
bricks of that period were glazed and those used through- 
out the county were not; second, splendid bricks were 
made here, so it seems unlikely that with the feeling 
then existing between England and the colonies that the 
people of this 'province would engage in any unnecessary 
trade with the Mother Country. Near many of these 
houses, wide but shallow pits can still be seen from which 
large quantities of clay have been taken, undoubtedly 
for the purpose of making bricks. For the sake of pre- 
serving tlie bricks many of these houses were later cov- 
ered with cement. 

One of the oldest brick dwellings in Caroline county 
is the Frazier Flats house, the home of Captain William 
Frazier, located several miles below Preston on a tract 
of land known as Fraizer's Neck, The house, built 
previous to the Revohition, antedates even the county 
in which it stands. It is a spacious building of red brick, 
bearing fine examples of workmanship in its colonial 
doorway, staircase an\l cornices. Until within the past 
generation much of the original furniture remained in 
the mansion, bearing the name of a cabinet maker of 
Drury Lane, London. 

The Frazier house was one of eight similar houses 
built about that same period on the Eastern Shore. 
Poplar Grove, on the lower side of Skillington's Creek, 
not far from Frazier Flats, was one of the eight. It, 
like nearly all of the others of the group, has been com- 
pletely destroyed by fire. 

Willow Grove, the former home of Matthew Driver, 
is perhaps better known as the Brick House Farm, long 
in the possession of the Horsey family at Greensboro. 
The house, which is one of the most pretentious of the 



early homes in tbe county, is kept in splendid condition 
by both the owners and tenants. The interior is noted 
for its paneled stairway winding to the third floor, a 
masterpiece of workmanship. To visit this house as it 
stands today, more than a century after the death of its 
huihler, gives one an insight into the character of tlie 
man whose name figures so prominently in the records 
of early Caroline. While no carved stone marks his 
resting place, the house at Willow Grove remains a mon- 
ument to the memory of Matthew Driver. 




INTERIOR OF WILLOW GROVE HOME. 

Rol)ert llardcastle, who came to this county from 
Eughnid in 1748, settled in what was at that time (^)ueen 
Anne's county. Later with the organization of Caro- 
line, his lands were inchukMl within lier borders. At the 
Hardcastle Landing (later Brick Mill), on the west side 
of tlie Choptank nearly opposite Melvill's Landing lie 
erected a brick mill and dwelling. The mill was torn 
down about 1900 but the house is still standing. 

Castle Hall, just above Goldsboro, was built by 
Thomas Hardcastle, a son of Robert Hardcastle of Brick 
Mill Landing. Mr. Hardcastle, who was a master build- 
er in his dav, was delaved in the construction of the 



—95- 



house by the outbreak of the Revolution. From its com- 
pletion until within the present generation the house 
and farm remained in the Hardcastle family. 

An unusual type of house of a much later date may 
be found on the road leading from Brick Mill Landing 
to Boonsboro. It is a brick house covered with brown 
cement, with a tower-like design in one end. (Norman 
type). The house was built by a Mrs. Weatherby of 
Pennsylvania. It probably stands on or near the site of 
a former Hardcastle house, as in the rear of the dwell- 
ing is a burying ground with stones bearing the names 
of Edward and Marv Ann Hardcastle, both of whom 
died about 1840. 

Francis Sellers, largely responsible for the estab- 
lishment of Hillsboro Academy, was the original owner 
of the light sand-colored brick house still standing at 
Hillsboro. It was in this house that Jesse Lee, the 
famous Methodist itinerant, died while visiting the 
Sellers family. 

The house at Plain Dealing, about a half mile below 
Denton on the state road, was built in 1789 for a county 
alms house. Later it was purchased by Mr. Dukes, who 
remodeled it for a private dwelling. It is one of the two 
old Caroline houses which has been continuously occu- 
pied by descendants of their early owners. 

The second such house belonging to the Wright fam- 
ily is located between Federalsburg and Reliance. The 
land, granted to the Wrights by the English king for 
valuable services to his Majesty, lies in what is now 
Caroline, Dorchester and Sussex counties. The house 
having undergone changes by way of additions and re- 
pairs since its early days, is one of the best preserved 
of the old homes in the county. 

The Captain Joseph Richardson house built in 1835 
on the Denton hill was one of the finest of the older 
homes in the county. Its interior woodwork was of 
mahogany and walnut, while sills at its windows and 
door were of marble. Sometime during its existence it 
was used as a hotel, but in 1851 while occupied as a pri- 
vate dwelling, was totally w^recked by fire. 

Daffin House in Tuckahoe Neck, built by Thomas 
Daffin in 1783, was the scene of many social gatherings 
in its early days. It is said that Andrew Jackson while 
visiting there met Charles Dickinson, a brother of his 
hostess, Avhom he later killed in a duel in Kentucky. A 

—96— ' 




-97— 



dungeon under the iiouse is shown visitors as liaving 
been the place where offending slaves were confined. In 
later years the property passed into the hands of Wil- 
liam H. Thawley and is commonly called at present 
"Thawley House." At some time during its existence 
it Jias been covered with a coat of cement, much of which 
has fallen oft'. While this gives the exterior rather a 
dilapidated look, the structure remains in splendid con- 
dition. 

Oak Lawn, in the Oakland district, was built by 
Benjamin Silvester in 1783 and bears his initials with 
that date upon one of its gables. The main building re- 
sembles the Frazier Flats house, but Oak Lawn has a 
long wing extending to the rear, evidently built for 
kitchens and servants quarters. Some time after the 
death of its owner it became the possession of Mrs. Mary 
Bourne, his granddaughter, but has now passed out of 
the Silvester family. 

Colonel William Whitely's home near Whitelysburg 
was burned about 1840. A well-marked family burying 
grcurd may still l:e seen on the farm. 

Colonel William Richardson's home at (lilinn's 
Point was burned many years ago. There seems to be 
a diversity of opinion as to whether or not it was a brick 
building. Li 1840, a large frame house was built ui)on 
the same sight by John Nichols but suft'ered a like fate 
as the Richardson house. 

Previous to 1760, a small brick house was built at 
Potter's Landing. Forty years later, William Potter, 
a grandson of the first owner, added a three story build- 
ing to it. Double porches and a cuijola which over- 
looked the Choptank were the distinguishing features of 
what from its completion has been known as the Potter 
Mansion. 

Marl)lehead and Cedarliurst. two brick houses near 
Oak Lawn, in their early days belonged to John Boon, 
the great grandfather of Clmrles (1. Dukes of Plain Deal- 
ing. 



-98— 




t^* --—^W-i 



-99- 



THE HUGHLETTS. 



The Hngbletts have figured largel.y both ijolitically 
and financially in Caroline County ever since the first 
William Hughlett, in 1759, arrived from Northumber- 
land County, Virginia, and settled near Greensboro 
(then in (^ueen Anne County). 

Thomas Hughlett, eldest son of this family, came 
into political prominence at the time of the organization 
of our present county by receiving the appointment as 
our first sheriff. Later he became coroner, then a mem- 
ber of the legislature. 

When the Revolutionary War broke out he entered 
Military service and was appointed a Captain of the 
Caroline C^ounty Militia and as such was active in the 
defense of his country, continuing in this service until 
the close of the war. In later years he was judge of the 
County Courts wliicli position he lield at the time of his 
death. 

His tomb bears the following inscription telling of 
his merit and worth : 

"In memory of 

Thomas Hughlett Esquire 

Son of William Hughlett and 

Mary, his wife, 
who departed this life on the 26 day of .March ISOo, in the GTiih 
year of his age. He was an affectionate husband, and tender par- 
ent, a kind master, a social and agreeable friend and an active 
industrious and enterprising citizen. He was honored by the free 
suffrage of his fellow citizens with the office of Sheriff of Carolina 
County then a delegate to the General Assembly of Maryland for 
many years. A justice of the Peace, and was at the time of his 
death one of the Associate Judges of the County Court. His integ- 
rity, justice and moderation has endeared his memory to the citi- 
zens of Caroline. Let his virtues be a stimulus to the descendants 
to preserve. The slothful will be covered with shame and none but 
those who persevere will reap the fruit of their labor.'" 

Thos. Hughlett 's eldest son, William Hughlett 2nd, 
was boi'n Sept. 9, 1769. While he held some positions of 
political ])referment, having been in 1816 elected to the 
Maryland senate and acted as president pro-tem of that 
body he had few aspirations in that direction. 

Because of his extensive land holdings, amounting 
to several thousand acres, he was better known in the 
agricultural world and was at one time a member of the 
'* Board of Trustees of the Maryland Agricultural So- 
ciety of the Eastern Shore." 

— 100— 



As landmarks sliowiiii;' the holdings of the second 
AVm. Hughlett we have the well known line of square 
stone markers each having the initials W. H. cut there- 
on while on a few are such inscriptions as "Last grant," 
"Skin Ridge," "Last bit," etc. The line of markers 
extends from near Milford, Delaware to Whitelysburg 
thence through Hughes Corner above Whitelysburg and 
on through the Maryland line to Greensboro, while in 
Talbot County almost the entire neck of Bolingbroke is 
spanned l)y these markers. 

On leaving Caroline this William llughlett removed 
to "AVarwick Manor" in Dorchester County near Secre- 
tary Creek. Later his home was at "Pleasant Valley" 
near Easton, where he died in 1845. 

His eldest son. Col. William R. Ilugldett of "Chan- 
cellors Point," was well known and highly esteemed. 
His daughter and grand-children are present residents 
of Greensboro, Caroline County, and of Talbot County, 
and end the long line of a well known and honorable fam- 
ily, whose residence in this section covers a ]jeriod of 
more than a centurv and a half. 



—101— 




O 
m 

N 



—102— 



WILLIAM FRAZIER— METHODIST ORGANIZER. 



In the year 1767, Sarah Frazier of Dorchester deed- 
ed to her eleven year old son a tract of land in that conn- 
ty known as Willenborong-h. Three years before, upon 
tile death of his father, Alexander Frazier, the boy liad 
inherited the home plantation with other tracts of land 
lying- between Skillino'ton's and Edmondson's creeks, 
frontinii,' on the Choptank river. With the formation of 
Caroline this land (al)ont 1400 acres in all) was includ- 
ed in the new countv and became known as Frazier 's 
Neck. 

The lionse u])on tlie liome plantation is still stand- 
ing" and its splendid structure carries out the tradition 
that it is one of eig'ht similar dwellings built on the 
Eastern Shore al)out seventeen hundred and fifty. Its 
splendid furniture was made in Tjondon and until a gen- 
eration ago many of the original ])ieces remained in the 
house. 

Of William Frazier 's life we know but little until 
in March, 1776 when he was connnissioned 3rd Lieuten- 
ant of the -Ith Independent Company of Maryland. In 
December of the same year he became 1st Lieutenant in 
Captain Dean's company of the 5th Regiment of the 
Maryland Flying Cam]). Later he was promoted to a 
captaincy in the militia. In March 1783 he became a 
Justice of the Caroline County Court, but William Fra- 
zier 's prominence in Caroline's affairs came neither thru 
his military or judicial career. He was a devoted fol- 
lower of John Wesley and as such was largely respon- 
sible for the organization of Methodist societies in the 
lower ])art of the county. In his home at Frazier 's 
Flats, the front room on the u]:)per floor was used as a 
meeting place and is known to-day as the ''Church 
Room." An outgrowth of this was Frazier 's Chapel, 
supposedly located on the present sits of Preston, Avhich 
later became Bethesda congregation aiid is now Preston 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

To Frazier 's hos])itable home came Jesse Lee, the 
Methodist circuit rider, and later Francis Asbury on his 
annual trips from Massachusetts to~ Georgia rejoiced in 
the rest and companionship found there. In the latter 's 
joui'ual we find repeatedly such notes as these: 

—103— 



May, IS 01 — We had a long ride (from Cambridge) to William 
Frazier's through dust and excessive heat. It was hard to leave, 
loving souls, so we tarried until morning. 

April 1805. We came to brother Frazier's. The fierceness of 
the wind miide the Choptank impassable; we had to rest awhile, 
and need had I, being sore with hard service. 

In the family bnryino" ground at Frazier Flats two 
stone slabs may be seen bearing these inscriptions: 

■ Captain William Frazier. Born 1756. Died 1807. 

Henrietta Maria Frazier. Died 1846, in the S4th year of her 
age. 

A nobler monument is erected to their memory in 
the form of Methodist churches scattered throughout 
lower Caroline which are the result of the patient labors 
of this good man and his wife. 



—10 



EARLY CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES. 



The Episcopal Cliiircli and the Quaker Societies 
seem to have been the two reli,i>'ioiis sects that were ear- 
liest represented in wliat is now Caroline county terri- 
iovy. For more than fiftv vears before the county was 
or,i>-anized official accounts of the activities of these de- 
nominations have been recorded. 

The Episcopal Church. 

A large majority of the early settlers on the East- 
ern Shore came from England and as a natural conse- 
quence the Episcopal Church, being the Established 
Church of England, seems to have been at one time the 
strongest denomination along the shore. Parishes were 
laid out, chapels erected, and clergy brought from Eng- 
land. Upon the outbreak of the Revolution, however, 
these men who were bound by oath "to bo loyal and bear 
allegiance to the government of England," were forced 
to take the oath required by loyal colonists of Maryland 
or return to England. As most of them preferred the 
latter course, the churches and parishes were abandoned. 
Feeling ran so high in those days that the English church 
suffered neglect even at the hands of their vestries. 

Another reason for the decline of ]30wer was the 
opposition to the "forty pound tax." This was a poll 
tax of 40 pounds of tobacco for the support of the clergy, 
in a(hlition to such general taxes as were necessary for 
building and repairs of chapels. It was levied, irrespec- 
tive of creed, for the Established Church. The Decla- 
ration of Rights, adopted 1776, forbade all further as- 
sessments for the support of the minister, but gave the 
legislature power to impose a common tax for the sup- 
port of Christian religion in general. Everyone paying 
this tax was given the right to designate the denomina- 
tion to which his tax should be credited. So bitter had 
the people become in regard to the idea of a church tax 
that they greatly favored the Methodist societies who 
made no mention of a tax and whose minister received 
the very humble salary of sixty dollars a year. 

—105— 



St. John 's Parish. 

The Act of Assembly establishiiii^ St. John's Parish 
was passed in 1748, After ontlivini>' the territory taken 
in Qneen Anne 's and Talbot Connties and originally held 
by St. Panl's and St. Lnke's Parishes the line extended 
into wliat is now Caroline Connty and apparently in- 
cluded about all of the county west of the Choptauk 
River. 

At this time the parish church was standino- in 
Queen Anne's County near Tuckahoe Bridge (now Hills- 
boro). This church was evidently built considerably 
earlier, as a record in 1717 stated that 1100 lbs. of tobac- 
co was paid to Thos. Fisher for repairing the said 
church. In 1737 the edifice seems to have been attain re- 
paired and at this time enlarged. Rev. Mr, Cox, who 
appears to have l)een the first rector of St. John's Par- 
ish, remained until 1753, 

Shortly before the Revolution the three settlements 
at Tuckahoe Bridge (Hillsboro), Choptauk Bridge 
(Greensboro) and Nino Bridges (Bridgetown) seem to 
have been quite thriving and apparenth^ contended for 
the honor and advantage of having the main church and 
vestry house in which the rector was to live. The Ves- 
try decided in 1767, as a compromise apparently, that 
the parish church should be built on the road from Tuck- 
ahoe Bridge to Choptauk Bridge, and that a chapel 
should be built at Nine Bridges. Two acres of land for 
a church site were purchased from Edward Barwick for 
£10 ($50) at or near the present site of Ridgely. This 
site, however, was not used and the land was subsequent- 
ly offered for sale. 

The Assembly of 1768 authorized the erection of the 
main church at Tuckahoe Bridge and the chapel at Nine 
Bridges. Thomas Hardcastle, of Castle Hall, probably 
built the church at Bridgetown, as he received several 
payments from the vestry at various times. The bricks 
used in the building of this church were brought up the 
river to Choptauk Bridge as well as 1600 bushels of 
oyster shells used in furnishing lime and mortar. John 
McConigal agreed to build the brick chapel and parish 
house at Tuckalioe Bridge for £1075. At this time Rev, 
Thomas Aiken was rector of l)oth churches. 

About 1820 a visiting clergyman reported that the 
church both at Tuckahoe Bridge and Nine Bridges had 

—106— 



fallen into \nu] repair and the congregations greatly 
lessened owing to the intluence of ^lethodisni. 

Rev. Robert (loldsborongh in 184-4: settled in Ilills- 
boro and held services in the Academy there as well as 
at Bridgetown. Six vears later he was elected perma- 
nent rector and in ISo.") the corner stone of the yjresent 
chnreh in Ilills])oro was laid by Bishop Whitehead of 
Illinois, The bnilding was blown down in December 
following, but work was soon re-commenced and tlie 
church consecrated in 1858. 

Rev. G. F. Beaven took charge of the parish in 1857, 
succeeding Rev. Mr. (loldsborough. At this time the 
rector reported that the church at Greensboro had a 
good sized congregation. From a bequest of about $1000 
by Mary Reed, tlie i)resent clinrcli at Greensboro was 
completed in 1875, 

St. Mary's White Chapel Parish. 

The population of Dorchester County having in- 
creased and expanded, it became necessary in 1725 to 
divide the Great Choptank Parish which included terri- 
tory now belonging to Caroline. A new parish was 
formed, known as St. Mary's White Chapel Parish. It 
included, beside a small part of Dorchester, all of what 
is now Caroline County, east of the Choptank. 

Thirty years later the Assembly authorized the erec- 
tion of a chapel in the parish. In the meanwhile, no 
doulit, services had been held within the parish, but this 
was the first consecrated building. The site selected was 
on the county road that now leads from Federal sburg 
to Hunting Creek, about two miles from Linchester. 

The chapel was used for church services until 1776 
wlien it, like other such chapels was abandoned by clergy 
and vestry. Unused for many years, about 181:2 the 
building was torn down and the material divided amon.g 
people of the community, Benjamin and Henry Nichols, 
who assisted in razing the building, took as their share 
some of the bricks which may still be seen in a chimney 
of the house owned by the late Jasper Nichols, near 
Hynson. Part of the lot where the chapel stood was 
used as a burying ground and has been known for the 
last century as ''Church Old-Field," A broken marble 
slab, bearing the name of Sarah Haskins, is all that re- 
mains on this once sacred land, 

—107— 




-108— 



QUAKER SOCIETIES. 



A religiuus society known as (j)uakers, or Friends, 
was establishcMl in Eng'land in 1647. Later, because of 
persecution, many of their followers, forced to seek new 
homes, came to America. Maryland had been settled in 
the meanwhile to provide a refuge for the religiously 
oppressed of the Old World, and naturally received a 
large share of these wanderers. They were a quiet but 
sniistantial peo]tle avoiding all forms of display and 
livini;- simple, peaceful lives. 

The Friends did not claim to be a church but rather 
a "religious society." They employed no ministers but 
allowed members the privilege of s])eaking in their meet- 
ings when moved by the Spirit to do so. There were 
leaders in the Society who traveled about on horseback 
visiting the various meetings, but there was no salary 
attache'' to such services. The government of the So- 
ciety of Friends consisted of a center meeting to which 
preparatory meetings reported monthly. The center 
meeting was required to report to the quarterly meet- 
ing who in turn made its reports to a yearly meeting. 
These reports, which consist of marriage records, set- 
tlement of the estates of minors, accounts of monies col- 
lected, and other such matters, have been preserved and 
contain nnicli interesting and valuable information. 

Caroline county, in its early days, sent reports from 
its preparatory meetings to Third Haven Monthly Meet- 
ing at Easton. As the societies grew in strength, how- 
ever, a monthly meeting was established at North West 
Fork, with preparatory nu^etings at Marsh Creek and 
Greensboro. 

In 1797 the Nicholite Friends (so called because 
they were followers of Joseph Nichols) located in Caro- 
line County, Maryland. After existing as a separate 
society for twenty years, tinding that the vital and funda- 
mental ]j]'inciples of their society were similar to that of 
the Friends, concluded that a union might prove of mut- 
ual advantage, therefore applied, and were accepted as 
members of Third Haven Meeting. 

Tlieir rigid rules of discipline, esi^ecially in dress, 
being very objectionable to their young people, made 
them anxious for a little more liberty, — one of tlieir 
points of self-denial being in regard to wearing dyed 

—109— 



garments, and cultivating bright-colored flowers. Prior 
to the dissolntion of their society, they generously trans- 
ferreed to this meeting (Third Haven) their three meet- 
ing-houses in Caroline County, namely: Centre (near 
Preston), Tuckahoe Neck (near Denton) and Northwest 
Fork (now Pine Grove). About four hundred persons 
became incorporated with the society, though some af- 
terwards emigrated to Canada and the Western States. 
Among those who remained here were Elisha Dawson, 
Elizabeth Twiford, and James Harris, all ministers in 
much esteem. Dennis Kelley and family, Levin Pool and 
family, John Wright and family, Preston Godwin and 
family, Samuel Emerson and family, Wm. Maloney and 
family, AVillis Charles and family, Jonathan Shannalian 
and family, and Anthony Whitely, were some of the most 
prominent mend)ers who connected themselves witli this 
meeting. 

Friends. 

Tiie (L)uakers of Talbot county established in 1676 
t]ie Third Haven Monthly Meeting at Easton. This was 
the center to which preparatory meetings throughout 
Talbot and Dorchester later made reports at regular 
intervals. One of the earliest of these meetings was 
held at Marshy Creek previous to the formation of Car- 
oline county. Later the meetings at Greensboro and 
North West Fork were established under Third Haven, 
but in 1799, North West Fork becoming a monthly meet- 
ing, l)oth Marshy Creek and Greensboro reported there. 

Marshy Creek Meeting. 

Among the records of the Third Haven Monthly 
Meeting in Easton we find in 1727 an account of Marshy 
Creek Meetings beings held regularly, but we do not find 
the date of their organization. Thirty years later Third 
Haveii ordered ''the several weekly meetings to pro- 
ceed to a collection to raise money to assist friends at 
Marshy Creek Meeting in the building of a new meeting 
house and to make a return of tlieir subscriptions to 
next monthly meeting." This indicates that there had 
been a meeting house there previous to that time, but 
we find no other record of its existence. The house, 
built with the money tluis collected, was a small fram.e 
l)uilding, ])lainly furnished, with a sliding partition 

—110— 



which separated the men and women during business 
meetings. It was erected on a half acre lot deeded iu 
17G4 by William Haskins to William Edmonson near the 
jDresent site of Preston and used bv the Friends until 
1849. 

At that time James Dixon deeded to the Trustees of 
the Society of Friends a piece of land located in what is 
now Preston for the small sum of $5. The meeting house 
built on this site is still standing and was used until the 
erection recently of a more modern brick structure ad- 
joining it. When the land was purchased at Preston 
we find records of the old building and land at Marsliy 
Creek being sold to the colored people for $100. The 
building was used by them as a Methodist Church until 
a few 3^ears ago when a new church was erectOvl on the 
oh I site. 




OLD FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, PRESTON. 



-Ill- 



North West Fork Meeting. 

Levin Wright and Mark Noble of North West Fork 
asked permission in 1794 to hohl Quaker meetings in 
their homes. This resulted in the organization of a pre- 
paratory meeting which in 1799 occupied the buihling 
previously used by the Nicholites at Federalsburg. In 
the same year a monthly meeting was established there 
with i)reparatory meetings at Marsh Creek and Greens- 
boro. In later years the meeting house was moved to 
Piney Grove, about two miles west of Federalsburg and 
enlarged to accommodate the increased attendance. 

Greensboro Friends. 

In 1795 the second Friends' Meeting House in Caro- 
line County was completed at Greensboro. The house 
stood on a half acre of land deeded by Batcheldor Chance 
to Thomas Hopkins and Edward Needles for £5. Part 
of the land was to be use<l as a Quaker burying ground 
and a few of the old stones may still be seen on the west 
side of Main Street between the homes of Dr. Malone 
and Mr. Fred P. Roe. 



J VOICE FROM NECK MEETING HOUSE. 



Long have I stood and am now very old. 

Some of my tales I never have told, 
But here are some that you shall hear. 

Since you are so anxious, my dear, my dear. 

On long past Sundays. Friends here would meet. 

And each sit solemnly in his seat, 
Then during the war soldiers came here to stay. 

Once I was school, and my grounds used for play. 

W^onderful changes have I seen. 

Sometimes I wonder what they can mean. 
One day I was startled most sadly. Ah me! 

By what men call a train on the M. D. & V. 

Now the horseless carriage goes riding by. 

And only last Sunday I saw one in the sky, 
No wonder you children come here to see me 

And write me down as history. 



-112- 



The Neck Meeting House. 

About a mile from Denton, on the Hillsboro road 
stands the Neck Meetino- House, a quaint ohl wooden 
structure of a century a^'o. A dense <»Towth of under- 
brush ahnost obscures the building from ]3ublic view and 
a substantial wire fence protects it from curious prowl- 
ers. The building, long ago robbed of its benches, lilirar- 
ry and other simi)le furnishings is slowly crumbling to 
decay. 

In the year 1801, Quakers living near Denton who 
had formerly belonged to the Nicholite Friends, asked 
Third Haven Meeting for the privilege of holding ])re- 
paratory meetings and building a meeting house. This 
request was granted and in the next year, the situation 
having been selected and ])lans for the building com- 
pleted it was found that $60 was needed beyond what 
could be supplied by the Neck Meeting. This amount 
was raised by other Friends and on September 26, 1802 
the first service was held in the new building. The land 
(li/> acres) was deeded by William Wilson to Tristram 
Needles, and other trustees, for the use of the Society of 
Friends in consideration of £4, 10s. 

Besides being used as a meeting house, Eliza Hea- 
cock of Philadelphia held private school there about 
1856. Her s|)lendid teaching ability and sterling char- 
acter built up a strong private school. Another well- 
known teacher of the school was Miss Rachel B. Sat- 
terthwaite, of Denton. 

Previous to the Civil War abolitionist meetings with 
speakers of national fame are said to have been lield in 
the meeting house. During the war. Northern troo]js 
used the grounds for a camping place and the house for 
barracks. The blue coats, worn and tired, would polite- 
ly withdraw on Sunday morning in order that the 
Friends might hold their meetings unmolested and some 
are said to have returned at times to attend the ser- 
vices. 

About 1890, for lack of funds, Neck Meeting House 
was abandoned as a place of worship. To protect the 
spot where his parents lie buried, Edward Tylor, a half 
brother of Miss Sattherthwaite, secured legislative en- 
actment to purchase the land about the meeting house 
and further protected the grounds by the erection of a 
substantial iron grating. 

—113— 



Ill a ]>oem of Miss Sattliertliwaite's she thus pays a 
final tribute to the iiieetiiii'' house: 



"And a sheltering place for the birds of the air 
May this house become, where once echoed prayer, 
But tlie Spirit of God is above lieat and frost 
And the echoes of prayer can never be lost. 
The life of a Christian for ages may gleam. 
Though his sect cannot wear Christ's coat without seam." 

(Written from material collected by Denton School.) 



The Nicholites. 

A very pious religious sect known as the Nicholite 
Friends had in the latter part of the eighteenth conturj'- 
quite a stronghold in that section of our county l>order- 
ing on the upper Northwest Fork river and Marshy 
Hope creek. The Nicholites first permanent place of 
public worship was in a meeting house erected en the 
banks of what is still known as Quaker Meeting House 
Branch, near the site of the old colored school at Fed- 
eralsburg. About 1817, the Nicholites were accepted as 
members of the Third Haven Meeting and generously 
transferred to this meeting their three meeting houses 
in Caroline, namely: Center (near Preston), Tuckahoe 
Neck (near Denton), and North West Fork (now Pine 
Grove). 

The Methodist Church. 

As early as 1771 we find evidence of the teachings 
of John Wesley having penetrated to the Eastern Shore 
of Maryland. Freeborn Garretson, of Kent Circuit, 
seems to have been the first organizer of Methodist so- 
cieties in Carojjjie, having visited here about 1776. Lat- 
er, Jesse Lee and James Moore rode this circuit in tire- 
less efforts preaching and organizing new societies. 
Francis Asbury, the greatest Methodist itinerant, in his 
trips from Massachusetts to Georgia, frequently stop- 
peed at the homes of Captain Frazier, Major Mitchell 
and Henry Downes, all of this county. 

Referring to Asbury and other Methodist circuit 
riders, Scharf says : 

"The people, used to ill-read servicei^ and dull written ser- 
mons flo<]^ed to hear these marvelous preachers wno prayed with- 
oat book and preached without manuscript; who went on horee- 

—11.^- 



back to the people instead of waiting for these to come to them; 
who lived on $60 a year, and never said a word about advowsons 
and forty per poll, about personal livings and fat glebes." 

Extracts from Asbury's journal (1789-1813) prove 
his enthusiasm and tireless energy. A few which men- 
tion his visits to Caroline are given here : 

Nov. 23, 1TS9. Came through rain from Wye to Tuckahoe. 

Nov. 27, 17Sy. There was a good attendance at Choptank 
Bridge. I ordained 5 persons to the office of deacons. 

Dec. 179 0. The next day being rainy we had but 100 hearers 
at Tuckahoe, whereas we expected that had it heen a clear day we 
should have 500 or 600. I preached in the evening at Choptank 
Bridge to a few people. 

Dec. 1791. Attended Quarterly meeting at Greensboro, com- 
monly called Choptank Bridge. We had a strict and living love- 
feast and powerful testimonies. 

Oct. 1792. Thence we rode to Choptank, now Greensboro. 

.... 1795. Crossed Choptank River at Ennall's Ferry — 9 
men, 3 horses and a carriage on board. 

July 1796. I rode to Greensboro through excessive heat. 

.... 1799. Preached at Tuckahoe. Held meeting in Wm. 
Frazier's dwelling house. 

1803. James Moore exhorted at Easton. Asbury preached. 
Never was preacher more respected in Talbot than our brother 
Moore. 

May 1803. I came from Dorchester along to Major Mitchell's 
in Caroline. The wind was east, the evening cold and I unwell. 
At Denton I took to bed awhile. We continued on, however, and 
reached Choptank. 

1813. A rapid ride brought us to Abraham Collins (near 
Concord) in Caroline. I preached at 3 o'clock and went home to 
dine with Peter T. Causey (near Smithville). 

For three years after having ridden Caroline cir- 
cuit Jesse Lee traveled with Asbury. While stationed 
in Annapolis he attended camp meeting at Tuckalioe 
(near Hillsboro) and there contracting a fatal fever 
died at Henry Sellers' home in Hillslioro, September 12, 
1816. 

The first Methodist church in Denton was named 
for James Moore, of whom Asbury writes in his journal, 
and was known for many years as Moore's Chapel. 

The first Methodist chapels in the county were the 
outgrowth of meetings held in private homes. They 
were located at Tuckahoe Bridge (Hillsboro), Choptank 
Bridge (Greensboro) and near the present site of Pres- 
ton. These buildings, simple in design were rudely but 
substantially constructed by members of the various 
societies. The present Methodist Episcopal Churches 
at these places are results of these chapel meetings. 

—115— 



Moore's Chapel, 

All interesting' story is told of tlie origin of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in Denton, bnt how authen- 
tic it may be we cannot say. A traveling minister Hear- 
ing the town on horseback decided to pass through the 
place singing and if invited to stop would take it as a 
sign that he should organize a meeting tliere. He car- 
ried out his |)laii and soon after entering the village was 
asked to alight. This he did, and true to his purpose, 
organized the first Methodist society in Denton. 

Moore's Chapel, previously referred to, was the first 
church ever built in Denton. It stood on the site of the 
Methodist burying ground behind the present M. E. 
church. In this building on March 2-1, 1816, James 
Moore, for whom the chapel was named, preached the 
first Methodist sermon ever preached in the town. 




MOORE'S CHAPEL. 

The entrance to the chapel was through a vestilnile, 
from which a stairway led to the gallery. This gallery 
was for the use of slaves, for at that time the colored 
people had no church of their own, but attended the 
same services as their master wlieii ])ermitted. After 



-116- 



service they would soinetiines sing as the white conoTo- 
gation passed out. The interior of this church, as all 
others of that time, was quite different from those of 
the present. Carpet was not used except on the floor of 
the pulpit and a runner up each aisle. The desk was 
narrow and so tall as to reach almost to the preacher's 
chin. The pews, narrow and straight, were uncomfort- 
able enough to keep even the sleepiest listener awake. 

In 1867 Moore's Chapel was moved and the present 
brick church built. The ohl chapel may still be seen, 
almost in ruins, on North Third Street, where for a. long- 
while it was used by the colored people as a church and 
later as their hall. 

(Material contrilmted by Denton School.) 

Concord Church. 

In 1804 John Mitchell, Isaac Collins, Sr., Horatio 
Short, Francis and James Sullivan were ti'ustees of the 
society then meeting at the home of Abraham C-ollins. 
These men, with the approval of the minister in charge, 
purchased from Mr. Collins 1 l/'20 acres of land for a 
meeting house site. The chapel was to be known as 
''Concord" and from that time on the cross roads, too, 
have been called by the same name, apparently the only 
one ever given it. Twenty-five years later a y)ermanent 
building was erected and the old chapel passed out of 
existence as such, so far as is known. 

TjEe's Chapel. 

A barn on the farm of Mr. Freeborn Elwanger near 
Whitelysburg has an interesting history. In the latter 
part of the 18th century people living in that section l)y 
the name of Lee were instrumental in building a chapel 
on their land. The chapel was a small wooden building 
with hewn framework ])ut together by means of wooden 
pegs. The few nails used were made by the village 
blacksmith. Tlie cha])el was named for the Lee family 
and sometime during its existence as a church a member 
of that family served as its minister. Witli the growth 
of the neighborliood. Shepherd's Chapel succeeded the 
original one wliicli was moved to its present site and 
converted into a l)ai'n. 

(From material coiiti'il)uted by Lowe's Scliool. 
—117— 



St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, (Denton.) 

Incomplete records show that previous to the or- 
ganization of Caroline as a comity, a Catholic mission 
existed in the vicinity of Denton. In the absence of a 
regular church building it is probable that services were 
held in private homes. From Bohemia Manor in Cecil 
and St. Joseph's Chapel in Talbot, Jesuit fathers came 
to serve the mission. Probably one of the earliest of 
these priests was Rev. Joseph Mosley, who served Old 
St. Joseph in 1787. 

In 1824 Benjamin Denny deeded to Ambrose Mar- 
shall, then Bishop of Maryland, an acre of land which 
was part of the tract known as Mt. Andrew. It was on 
this lot that the first Catholic church was erected, a lit- 
tle to the north of the present building. The date of the 
erection of the church is not known. In Captain William 
Richardson's will, dated 1831, four prints and the bust of 
Arch Bishop Carroll were ordered removed to the Cath- 
olic Church at Denton, there to be disposed of by the 
priest. This clearly indicates the erection of the build- 
ing some time previous to that date. Residents of Den- 
ton remember the building as being a rather pretentious 
one containing various pieces of imagery, busts and pic- 
tures, but bearing marks of old age. In 1890 when the 
present church was erected, the old building was torn 
down and some of its splendid white pine probably used 
in the new building. 

In 1845 Anastatia Rhodes of this county very gen- 
erously willed to Samuel Eccleston, the Archbishop of 
Baltimore, her splendid farm situated on the road be- 
tween Denton and Williston. He Avas to dispose of the 
land ''as best to promote the cause of the Holy Catholic 
religion in Caroline county especially for the support 
and good of the Catliolic church in Denton." The place, 
wliich is still known as the "Catholic Farm," was not 
sold until 1867 when its sale brought the sum of $2500. 



—118— 




—119— 



CAROLINE COUNTY ALMS HOUSES. 



For fourteen years after Caroline's organization 
we find the Court records filled with such items as these : 

Ordered by the court that Nancy P be allowed in next 

year's levy at the rate of 6 shillings for her support. 

Ordered that there be levied in the next levy the sum ot 20£ 

to James J for burying Rebecca S , finding coffin, 

sheet etc. 

Ordered by the court that 64 Lbs. tobacco a month be paid 
Mary B for support of Levi T now 3 years old. or- 
phan son of Sarah T now deceased. 

In spite of large sums thus granted for this use the 
poor in the county were not properly cared for. To 
remedy this, in November 1788 the General Assembly 
passed a law requiring that tliere be an alms and work 
house built at the general expense of the county. The 
justices were to assess and levy the sum of £300 cur- 
rent money in each year from 1789 to 1790 to meet this 
expense. An annual levy was to be made for the run- 
ning expense of the institution. 

AVilliam Whitely, Joseph Douglass, Thomas Hard- 
castle, Joshua Wallace and Henry Dowmes were appoint- 
ed trustees to purchase land and erect thereon suitable 
buildings for the institution. The land selected consist- 
ed of six acres of a tract known as Lloyd's Regulation 
about one half mile from Denton on the road which led 
to Potter's Landing (AVilliston). It was purchased from 
John Cooper and Michael Lucas for £18 current money. 
Of the original buildings we know little except that the 
main one was a splendidly built brick house surrounded 
by numerous smaller ones of frame. While the build- 
ings were being erected, the trustees were authorized to 
rent a house near the county seat for the reception of 
the poor and such vagrants as should be committed to 
tlieir charge. 

Tlie trustees were responsible for the good govern- 
ment of the alms and work houses. The poor were kept 
in the alms house and such as were able were compelled 
to work, while the work house lodged the vagrants, beg- 
gars, vagabonds and disorderly people of the county. 
They, too, were compelled to work and in case of misbe- 
havior were at one time subjected to ten lashes of the 

—120— 



whip. Later, however, this punishment was elian,<>'e(l to 
an extension of time in the institution. 

An overseer was appointed with a salary of i^75 an- 
nually beside food, fuel, and house room for himself and 
family. He kept a record of all ]jersons committed to 
his care, all expenses for their support, and such monies 
as he receiped from their labor. He was cdso respon- 
sible for the general management of the ])lace in the ab- 
sence of the trustees. 

Wlien a man or woman was connnitted to either 
house he was forced to wear u])on the shoulder of tlie 
right sleeve of his top garment a badge bearing the Ro- 
man letters P. C cut into red or l^lue cloth. There was 
a punishment for refusal to wear the badge and a fine 
for the overseer allowing any one to omit it. 

It was found necessary to make some provision for 
out-pensioners. These were people who could be cared 
for more conveniently in private homes than in a public 
institution. An allowance of not more than $30 annually 
was to be paid each of them and at no time was tlie num- 
ber of out-pensioners to exceed ten. Such or])lians as 
were committed to the poor house were, upon opportun- 
ity, bound out to tradesmen or inechanics who promised 




PRESENT ALMS HOUSE. 

— 121 — 



to feed, clothe, and lodge them as well as instruct them 
in their trade. 

In 1823 there was a general feeling in the county 
that there was not land enough at the Alms-house farm 
and that a larger tract, properly tilled, would be more 
satisfactory. Accordingly, the old property was sold at 
public auction for $505 to Mr, James Dukes and remod- 
eled by him for private use. The brick Iniilding, which 
is in excellent condition, is still owned by the heirs of 
the original purchaser. The land purchased for the new 
farm contained 325 acres, known as the George Garey 
Farm, the price paid being $2197, 58yo. Since that time 
some of the wooded land has been cleared, the timber 
sold and additional land purchased. 



—122- 



WHEN TOBACCO WAS KING. 



Tobacco played an important part in the early bus- 
iness transactions of our state. Dnrin,^ the Colonial pe- 
riod no other crop is so often mentioned in Maryland 
history. Scharf says, "The processes of i^overnment, 
society, and domestic life began and ended with tobacco. 
Laws were made more or less with reference to this sta- 
ple — to protect it, maintain its value in ))rice, and to en- 
hance its each exchang'cableness." 

In our county, as elsewhere, tobacco came to be used 
in place of money. Salaries and waives of every kind 
were paid in this currency, and if it were refused in pay- 
ment of any obli^'ation, the debt was absolved. It is in- 
teresting to know that one pound of tobacco would buy 
three pounds of beef, two pounds a fat pullet, and a hogs- 
head, when shipped to England, would provide a family 
with luxuries for a year. 

The culture of this crop was largely responsible for 
Maryland becoming a slave state. As the wealth of a 
man was estimated in his annual acreage of tobacco, it 
naturally became advantageous for the planters to have 
plenty of cheap labor. One slave could till with ease 
6000 hills of tobacco and five acres of corn. Under 
pressure this amount was sometimes doubled, but it is 
generally recognized that the Maryland planters were 
not hard task-masters and usually owned sufficient 
slaves to prevent the necessity for extreme overwork. 

The early settlers were extravagant in everything 
they did and in notliing more so than in their abuse of 
the soil for the cultivation of tobacco. New lands proved 
to be best adapted for this crop and each season virgin 
soil was broken for its culture. Upon the used land other 
crops were planted but with no thought for the increase 
of its fertility. Gradually the land "wore out" and 
cereals took the place of the "weed" in the field, but 
never in commercial importance. 

During this period tobacco warehouses naturalh^ 
became places of considerable importance in the county. 
The one belonging to David Melvill became the most 
prominent because of its use as a temporary court house. 
Others were Hughlett's at Bridgetown (Greensboro) ; 
Richardson's at Gilpin Point; North West Fork at Fed- 
eralsburg*; and Hunting Creek, near Linchester. The 

—123— 



act authorizing the erection of the Bridgetown "Ware- 
house is typical of those which provided for the others 
in the county. It is interesting to note the articles nec- 
essary for inspecting the tobacco : 

■•BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of Maryland, That 
William Hughlett, of Caroline County, be and he is hereby author- 
ized to build at Bridgetown a warehouse, for containing and secur- 
ing tobacco offered for inspection, if in the judgment of tlie levy 
court of Caroline county, the erecting of such warehouse would pro- 
mote the public interest and convenience, and he, the said William 
Hughlett, or those claiming to hold under him, shall provide and 
keep constantly in repair, beams, screws, scales, weights, brands 
and marking irons, and all other things necessary for inspecting 
tohacco brought into the said warehouse for inspection; and the 
said warehouse, when erected and finished, shall be deemed a public 
warehouse, and the proprietor or proprietors thereof may demand, 
and snail be entitled to receive, one dollar for each hogshead of to- 
bacco inspected at the said warehouse, before such hogshead shall 
be removed, as a full compensation for the expense of erecting the 
said warehouse, and keeping the same in repair, and for the pro- 
viding of proper scales, weights, brands and marking irons, and all 
other things necessary for inspecting tobacco and for the payment 
of the salary or salaries to the inspector or inspectors of the said 
warehouse, as the proprietor or proprietors of the said warehouse 
shall agree to pay; and if any tobacco shall remain in the said 
warehouse above one year after inspection, the proprietor or pro- 
prietors of the said warehouse may demand, and shall be entitled to 
receive for each hogshead the further sum of twelve and one-half 
cents for every month thereafter." 

Of such value were the contents of these warehous- 
es that persons convicted of setting fire to one of tliem 
were condemned to suffer the penalty of deatli without 
benefit of clergj^ 

The vestrymen and church wardens of each parish 
were required to meet at their respective churches be- 
tween the first and tenth of September each year to nom- 
inate and recommend to the Grovernor two or four able 
and efficient planters well skilled in tobacco to act as 
inspectors for the warehouses within their parish. The 
certificates of recommendation thus made were forward- 
ed to the (xovernor who then made tlie appointments. 
The salaries for inspectors ranged from four to ten 
thousand pounds of tobacco annually. Each year these 
men filed witli the court their accounts. The following 
is a copy of <uic from Hughlett 's Warehouse at Bridge- 
town : 

Filed November Teini of Court, 1774. The account of James Ginn 
inspector at Bridgetown, 1774, Caroline County, Bridgetown, 
Warehouse, Dr. 

To inspectors salary in tobacco 4800 lbs. 

To 6 lb. Lead at 6p. 3s. To 2 lb. rope 9p. 1 /6 3 6 



To a new scale gallows and post, 5 lbs. To 2 new prises 

at 15 fartherings 302 

To 2 new sweeps, 2 crutches, 2 new tongues and putting 

in, l.j fartherings 120 

To cutting 7 letters in the Warehouse, Brading Iron 7/6. . 60 

5318 

1774 Caroline Countv 

Cr. 

Bj- 145 crop Hogshead of Tobacco at 20 lbs. per hogshead . 4060 

By 15 Transfer Hogshead at 5 6 lbs. per 840 

By 4 3 lb. gained by P. C. P. shrinkage at 16 per hundred. 5 6 

Errors Excepted James Ginn 4956 

By balance due me, 362 iTjs. tobacco 362 

5318 
December 14, 1774, then came James Ginn before me, one of 
his lord.ship justices of the peace, for the said county, and made 
oath on the Holv Evangels of Almighty God that this account Is 
just and true as it stand. Stated Sworn before me. 

Nath. Potter. 



Strange Money of Long Ago. 



Tobacco money! How straiig-e it seems! Still for 
many years colonial people of our own county' used to- 
bacco almost entirely as money. A man used tobacco to 
pay his taxes, to pay his doctor's bill, to buy his mar- 
riage license, to Iniy his lumber, to pay his workers, to 
])urcliase his slaves, to pay the governor of the province 
and even to pay the preacher's salary. Just a little 
above Denton stood a tobacco warehouse belonging to 
David Melvill. The inspector's salary paid in tobacco 
equalled about $265, as tobacco was valued at 3 or 4 
cents a pound. English ships called at Melvill 's Land- 
ing, where the warehouse stood and exchanged their 
goods for tobacco. No doubt many hogsheads of to- 
bacco liave been rolled down our streets to the Great 
Clioptank in colonial days. 

Arthur Lee Eairigh. 



-125- 



THE DUEL BETWEEN DICKINSON AND JACKSON. 



Tlie circumstances eoiiiiected with the famous duel 
Tjetween Andrew Jackson of Tennessee and Charles Dick- 
inson of Caroline county, Maryland, are herewith given 
as gleaned from several apparently reliable sources. 

Jackson who had been retired from public life was 
then (1806) living on a farm along the Cumberland Riv- 
er in Tennessee, about ten miles from Nashville. He had 
a passion for fine horses and it became a principal branch 
of his farming business, to raise them from the best 
stock imported from Virginia and North Carolina. More 
for the purpose of exhibiting his stock and recommend- 
ing it to purchasers, than to indulge in the practices 
common at such places, he brought out his favorite 
horses upon the race-courses of the day and lost and won 
in many a well-contested field. 

Jackson owned a favorite horse, named Truxton, 
which he was challenged to run against a horse owned 
by a Mr. Erwin and his son-in-law, Charles Dickinson. 
The stakes were to be two thousand dollars on a side, in 
cash notes, with a forfeiture of eight hundred dollars. 
The bet was accepted, and a list of notes made out ; but 
when the time for running arrived, Erwin and Dickin- 
son chose to pay the forfeit. Erwin offered sundry notes 
not due, withholding the list which w^as in the hands of 
Dickinson. Jackson refused to receive them, and de- 
manded the list, claiming the right to select from the 
notes described upon it. The list was produced, a selec- 
tion made, and the affair satisfactorily adjusted. After- 
wards a rumor reached Dickinson, that General Jackson 
charged Erwin -with producing a list of notes different 
from the true ones. In an interview between Jackson 
and Dickinson, the former denied the statement, and the 
latter gave his author. Jackson instantly proposed to 
•call him in; but Dickinson declined. Meeting with the 
author shortly after, Jackson had an altercation with 
him, which ended in blows. Here the affair ought to have 
ended. But there were those who desired to produce a 
duel between Jackson and Dickinson. The latter was 
brave and reckless, a trader in blacks and blooded horses, 
and repnted to be the best shot in the country. Exas- 
peration was produced; publication followed publica- 
tion; insults were given and retorted; nntil, at length, 

—126— 



General Jacksou was informed that a paper, more severe 
than its predecessors, was in the hands of the printer, 
and that Dickinson was about to leave the state. He 
flew to Nashville, and demanded a sight of it in the print- 
er's hands. It was insulting in the highest degree, con- 
tained a direct imputation of cowardice, and concluded 
with a notice that the author would leave for Maryland, 
within the coming week. A stern challenge, demanding 
immediate satisfaction, was the consequence. The chal- 
lenge was given on the 23d of May, and Dickinson's 
publication appeared the next morning. Jackson press- 
ed for an instant mxceting; but it was postponed, at the 
request of the other party, until the 30th, at which time 
it was to take pia(?e, at Harrison's Mills, on Red River, 
within the limits of Kentucky. Dickinson occupied the 
intermediate time in practicing. Jackson went upon the 
ground firml_y impressed with the conviction that his life 
was eagerly sought, and in the expectation of losing it, 
but with a determination which such a conviction natu- 
rally inspired in a bosom that never knew- fear. As Dick- 
inson rode out to the place with a party of friends, he 
fired at a string supporting an apple and cut the cord 
in two. It had been agreed that the two men should use 
pistols and stand eight paces apart facing the same 
direction and that at the word they should turn towards 
each other and fire as they chose. 

Later, however Jackson and his second Dr. Overton 
decided it best and agreed that Dickinson shoot first. 
When all was ready and Overton gave the word, Dick- 
inson fired and Jackson was seen to press his hand light- 
ly over his chest while the dust flew from his clothes. 

Dickinson at first thought he had missed his man 
and was seized with terror. Jackson now had his ad- 
versary at his mercy and slowly pulled the trigger. 
There was no explosion; the pistol stopped at half cock 
which by the rules was not considered a shot. Again 
Jackson took deliberate aim and fired ; the ball severed 
an artery and Dickinson fell. Jackson with his friend 
and surgeon, left the ground, and had travelled about 
twenty miles towards home, when his attendant first dis- 
covered that the general was wounded, by seeing the 
blood oozing through his clothes. On examination, it 
was found that Dickinson's ball had buried itself in liis 
breast, and sliattered two of liis ribs near their articula- 
tion witli tlio broastliono. It was some weeks before he 

—127— 



was able to attend to bnshiess. Dickinson was taken to 
a neighboring lionse, where he survived but a few hours. 

The friends (^i Dickinson, and the enemies of Jack- 
son, circulated charges of unfairness in the fight, but 
these were soon put down, in the estimation of candid 
and im])artial judges, by the certificates of the seconds, 
that all had been done according to the previous under- 
standing between the parties, and proof that Dickinson 
himself, though able, to converse, never uttered a single 
word of complaint before his deatli. 

The Secretary of the Tennessee Historical Society 
furnishes the following: 

"In regard to his (Charles Dickinson) latter end will say that 
his remains were burled on the farm of his father-in-law, Mr. Joseph 
Erwin, then some distance west of Nashville. But the city has so 
grown in the last fifty years that the grave is now within the bounds 
of the western district of the city. Until a few years ago it was 
marked by an old fashioned box tomb, although it had no inscrip- 
tion whatever. Since the farm has become a part of the city, this 
tomb has been removed and there is no mark of the grave except 
that we know exactly its position and are trying to have it perma- 
nently marked. 

In regard to Mr. Dickinson will say that it is now generally 
admitted that the difficulty with General Jackson grew out of the 
sporting life of both of them and is attributed largely to differences 
growing out of a horse race. 

I think the verdict of history is that Mr. Dickinson was a young 
man of promising abilities, but in keeping with the life of the day 
was high strung, impetuous, and probably imprudent. There is 
nothing, however, justified witli reference to immoral character, no 
more than was characteristic of life in the South at that time." 



—128- 



WAR OF 1812. 



The War of the -Kevolution had passed and "politi- 
cal independence" was an assured fact. Now scarcely 
more than a quarter of a century had elapsed, when, 
because of Great Britain's interference with our trade 
came the demand from our nation for Connnercial In- 
dependence. 

The foUowini;- is the voice of our government, 

"AN ACT Declaring War between the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof and the Unit- 
ed States of America and their territories. 

BE IT E'NACTED Iby the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the United States off American in Congress assexUbled, 
That War be and the same is hereby declared to exist between the 
U. Kingdom of G. Britain and Ireland and the dependencies there- 
of and the United States of America and their territories, and 
that the President of the U. States be and he is hereby authorized 
to use the whole land and naval forces of the U. States to carry 
•the same into effect and to issue to private ar.ned vessels of the 
lU. States commissions or letters of marque and general reprisal, 
in such form as he may think proper, and effects of the government 
of the said U. Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the 
subjects thereof, June IS, 1812. 

Approved, James Madison. 

The military records from the State of Maryland 
of the War of 1812 were removed from the Adjutant 
General's office in Annapolis to the War Department at 
Washington during the Civil War and are not now ac- 
cessible for private citizens to collect historical data 
therefrom, therefore the war history of local interest re- 
lating to Caroline County cannot be fully obtained. 

While six thousand soldiers w^ere Maryland's (piota, 
twelve thousand volunteered. Without records, how- 
ever, for examination, the volunteers from Caroline 
County cannot be fully named. 

Caroline County, true to the spirit of Revolution- 
ary days, took up the cause and called a citizens meet- 
ing whicli was held at Denton. Col. William Whitely, 
state senator, was made chairman, and Sheriff Kobert 
Orrell secretary; while AVilliam Potter, a Federal lead- 
er, headed the et)mmittee on resolutions. The commit- 
tee of eight appointed to draft the resolutions was also 
made "A Committee of Correspondence and empowered 
by the meeting to represent Caroline in any subsequent 
measures taken by her sister counties in vindication of 
the national honor." 

—129— 



Resolutions condemning the attack of the "Leop- 
ard" were also adopted. 

Again when the nominating committee from this 
electoral district met in Denton, July 21, 1812, they pass- 
ed resolutions which the following gives in part : 

"That an important and awful crisis has now arrived. 

"That it is no longer a contest between Federalists and Dem- 
ocrats but a contest of much moie serious nature. 

"That the time has now arrived for a line to be drawn be- 
tween tl e friends of their Country and those who stand up bodly 
and condemn the measures Of government and advocate or palliate 
the conduct of our implacable enemies." 

Then came the call for militia and Caroline respond- 
ed to the call by contributing to the 12th Brigade, com- 
manded by Brigadier-general Perry Benson, captain of 
the Fifth Regiment, Maryland line during the Revolu- 
tion. Her contribution was the 19th Regiment, also an 
extra Battlion. 

The Regiment and extra Battalions were officered 
as follows : 

Governor Wright appointed Robert Orrell, Lieuten- 
ant Colonel and commander of the Regiment. 



INFANTRY 



Rank 

Major & 
Lieut. Col. 



Name 
William Potter 

Nehemiah Townsend Major 

Solomon Richardson " 

John Boone Adjutant 

Andrew Baggs Captain 

Selby Bell 

Levin Charles " 

James Colson " 

Frederick Holbrook 

Purnell Fisher " 

Elijah Satterfield 

Hugh Tavlor 

Thomas Styll " 

Joseph Talbot 

Thomas Carter " 

Peter Willis 

William Chaffinch 

Garretson Blades " 

Henry Harris " 

Thomas H. Douglass 

Emory Bailey Lieut. 

Henry Jump " 

William Coursey " 

James Richardson " 



Name 



Rank 
Lieut. 



John Morgan 

WMlliam Turner " 

George H. Smith '' 

Thomas Manship " 

Henry Willis " 

.lesse Collins " 

Richard Cheezum " 

John Jump Ensign 

Nathan Russell " 

James Shaw " 

Thomas Andrew Jr. " 

George Andrew Jr. " 

Thomas Silvester " 

Jacob Covey " 

Daniel Cheezum " 

WnUiam Bell " 

Peregrine Rouse " 

Marcellus Keene Surgeon 
Sharles Tilden 
Timothy Caldwell 

Surgeon's Mate 
Nathan Whitby Quartermaster 

Alemby Jump Paymaster 

James Sangston " 



—130— 





CAVALRY 




Name 


Rank 


Name 


Rank 


'Richard Hughlett 


Major 


Wm. Hardcastle 


1st Lieut. 


Mitchell Russum 




Daniel Leverton 


" 


William Boone 


" 


Henry Nichols 


2nd Lieut. 


Wm. Hughlett 


Captain 


John Stevens 


" 


Samuel Slaughter 


" 


Wm. Orrell 


" 


Thomas Goldslborough 


" 


Peter Hardcastle 


" 


Thomas Saulsbury 


" 


John Stewart 


Paymaster 


Jemfer Taylor 


1st Lieut., 


Stephen Fisher 


Coronet 



Of tlie extra Battalion only two officers are named 
indicating, probably, that it was as yet incomplete. These 
officers were Cai)tain Alemby Jump and Lieutenant Sam- 
uel Cnlbreth. 

While the British were ravaging the Eastern Shore 
as a Avhole, wanton outrages were committed at many 
points along the Bay, and later we will see that Caroline 
was probably saved by the stern resistance of the Militia 
along the bay coast. 

Among the places suffering from British depreda- 
tion were : 

1 Capture of Mail packet on Bay. 

2 Attack on Fredericktown, Cecil Co. 

3 Attack on Georgetown, Kent Co. 

4 Occupation of Kent Is. by British. 

5 Attack on Queenstown. 

6 Attack on iSt. Michaels. 

7 Fleet at Castle Haven. 

Caroline County was indirecth' connected with some 
of the above. In the capture of the Mail boat this coun- 
ty lost a quantity of mail. 

When the British fleet set sail from Kent Island and 
landed at Castle Haven near the mouth of the Choptank 
River informants said the British were coming north to 
the Dover Bridge vicinity, from there proceed to ravage 
the town of Easton and probably all the surrounding ter- 
ritory. A letter written at Chestertown during that 
period said, ''This day their (British) whole fleet got 
under way, and stood down the bay, so that we have a 
little more respite but how long God knows. Report 
from Kent Island says they intend going up the Chop- 
tank River at or about Dover ferry." 

Why they went no further than Fairhave will never 
be positively known but remembering the strong ressist- 
ance of the Militia at St. Michael where a British sol- 
dier was overheard to say that one officer liad been kill- 

—131— 



ed who was more valuable tliaii the whole town, we may 
give the bravery of the militia as a probable reason. 

Caroline lent her aid to the unfortunate citizens in 
the bay section by permiting them to drive their cattle 
inland to the Choptank marshes where they could feed 
safe from the marauding Britisli. 

The war closed. We won in our second bout with 
the English in spite of blunders, and strange to say 
when the treaty was made no mention was made of the 
cause, i. e.. Free Trade and Sailor's Rights. 

Of the war, Hart says, 

■■The United States was like a turtle which draws its feet and 
tail beneath a protecting shell, yet reaches out its hooked jaws ta 
catch its adversary in the most vulnerable part"; 

while of tlie Treaty, Tubbs says: 

"The best that could be said of the treaty of Ghent was that it 
was an honorable one." 

An Interesting Document. 

Mr. William A. Stewart holds the Commission is- 
sued by Gov. Thomas G. Pratt in July 1846 whereby his 
father, Alexander Stewart, Esq. was appointed captain 
of a uniform Volunteer Corps attached to the 17th Regi- 
ment Md. Militia. This Caroline County Corps was 
known as the "Caroline Stars." The Commission says, 
"That rer)osing especial trust and confidence in your 
Fidelity, Courage, Good conduct, and attachment to the 
State of Md. and the U. S. you are constituted and ap- 
pointed captain." Captain Stewart never saw active 
service, as the Mexican situation was soon well in hand. 



CAPTAIN JOSEPH RICHARDSON. 

Impressed Denton ian. 

Captain Joseph Richardson, doscenfUmt of Colonel 
AVilliam Richardson of Revolntionary fame, has the dis- 
tinction of being one of the American Seamen who were 
impressed by the British Navy, the continuance of whicli 
acts led to the AVar of 1812. An interesting story is told 
of his release later in London. He was approached by a 
man who offered for a certain amount of money to se- 
cure for him a passport to America. Richardson pro- 
duced the money although he believed the paper a forg- 
ery, and was fortunate enough to effect an escape from 
further service owing to it. 

Ap])arently his experiences as an im)jressed sailor 
cured his love for the sea as from 1817 to 184-4 continu- 
ously he was clerk of the court in Caroline county. Proof 
of this service mav be found in the court record Folio 
J R, Pages 1 and 317. 

In 18.')5 Richardson built a magniiicent home on 
what was known as the Mt. Andrew tract of land just 
east of Denton Bridge (site of the present residence of 
Dr. P. R. Fisher). It was a three story structure of 
pressed bricks and is said to have contained twenty 
rooms. 

Richardson's family consisted of a wife, three sons 
and a daughter. That part of the family were staunch 
Catholics. U])on his death in 1848 he was buried in St. 
Elizabeth's churchyard at Denton. 

In his will he mentions a library which for that time 
seems to have been an excellent one. After the captain's 
death his family moved to Cecil county and seem never 
to have returned to Caroline for any length of time. His 
wife, Elizabeth W. Richardson, was buried next him in 
Denton, but there seems to be no proof of the remainder 
of the family having been brought to their native county 
for burial. 



-133— 



THOMAS CULBRETH. 



"Alert, tall, tbiii of visage, black hair and eyes, with 
courteous, dignified, serious, impressive, convincing man- 
ners, all tending to suggest strength, confidence and in- 
spiration," so has one of his kinsman described Thomas 
Cnlbreth, the sometime Congressman from Caroline. 

The time of arrival in America of the original Cul- 
breth is contemporary with the running of the Mason 
and Dixon line, one of them having assisted in the sur- 
vey. Later three brothers, John, James, and William 
Culbreth, settled near that line where it separates Mary- 
land from Delaware, and from this John Culbreth, Thom- 
as was a lineal descendant, a great grandson. 

Cnlbreth was born April 13, 1786, at River Bridges 
(Henderson), near the Delaware border. There he spent 
his early youth living with his uncle on the Brick House 
farm, now owned by Robert Jarrell, where his educa- 
tional opportunities were limited to the local schools. 

Although he was heir prospective to landed estates 
his inclination was toward a business career, in which he 
felt lie could become most influential, and with this in 
view lie went to Denton where he secured a mercantile 
clerkship with Potter and Ross, and later entered a part- 
nership with one, Solomon Brown. 

In 1810 he married Ann Hardcastle, daughter of 
John Hardcastle, and by this alliance his local influence 
may have been increased, the Hardcastles being a family 
of good standing socially and politically. 

When the war for Commercial Independence broke 
out in 1812, he entered the military field, but must have 
enrolled in the ranks, as his name does not appear in the 
appointments, and there his service although inconspic- 
uous was no less credible. 

The political trend of the Culbreths had been toward 
the Federal principles but when in 1807 Thomas Cul- 
breth attained his majority he became a staunch Demo- 
crat and had gained some influence in his party. 

In politics as elsewhere "There is a tide in the af- 
fairs of men, which taken at its flood leads on to for- 
tune" and that tide came to Culbreth, following the ebb 
of the fortunes of the 14th Congress, after the passing 
of the "Compensation Bill" or "Salary Grab Bill" as 
it was called. 

—134— 



The Anti-salary men were quick to seize opportun- 
ity, and Culbreth, then 30 years old, as an anti-salary 
man by his "Political fervor and principles, mental acu- 
men and force, as well as personal characteristics" was 
recommended, June 13, 1816, to the people as a suitable 
nominee for the House of Representatives, and at the 
election following became the chosen representative of 
the people. That he as a legislator met with public favor 
is shown by the following quoted from an appeal issued 
by his Caroline County constituents. 

THOMAS CULBRETH 

"He is a gentleman who stands high in the estima- 
tion of the people of liis county. They are generally ac- 
quainted with him and tliev have entire confidence in 
him." It is furtlier shown by the fact that after a long 
term of service the people, in 1822, once more urged his 
candidacy but ill health caused his refusal. 

During his active service in Congress his position 
on important questions of the day was as follows : 

1. He advocated : 

1. Freedom of the press. 

2. Abolition of the slave trade. 

3. Reduction of departmental expenses. 

2. He favored : 

1. Appropriations for West Point. 

2. Sympathy for Spain's rebellious colonies. 

3. The position of the North in the Fugitive Slave Law. 

3. Opposed : 

1. Reduction of standing army. 

2. Admission of Missouri as a slave state. 

3. Free trade. 

His failing health and inability to endure the strain 
of Congressional activity did not retire him from public 
service, for records show that he was Judge of Caroline 
County Courts in 1822 and following that became Clerk 
of the Executive Council of Maryland, a position much 
like that of the present Secretary of State. This he re- 
tained under five Governors (1825-1835) ending his 30 
years of public service, 1835, when he retired to the Or- 
rell farm, near Boonslioro, where he spent liis latter days, 
his death occurring in 1843. 

—135— 



The rank and file of to-day's citizens know nothing 
of this nniqne character nor of the political prominence 
he attained. The name of Thomas Culbreth was a cent- 
ury ago a factor on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but 
is now known only by the local historians and revered 
only by his kinsmen, who have learned of his strong 
character together with his pictured personality, ''Dig- 
nified, impressive, with the black hair and eves of the 
Moorish Celt." 



-136— 



EARLY POSTAL SERVICE. 



Years before the Colonial Mail Service wliicii was 
established about 1790, the Legislature of Maryland es- 
tablished a law providing" for the more speedy passage 
of public letters and packets and the payment thereof. 
This measure provided that the Sheriff of Anne Arundel 
county would deliver all such mail for the Easterti 
Shore to the Sheriff of Queen Anne County at Kent Is- 
land, thence to the Sheriff of Caroline County from 
Queen Anne etc. For this service our sheriff received 
about $25 per year. Doubtless as the qu,antity of mail 
increased the compensation increased accordi^igiy until 
the Federal Government about 1789 took charge of the 
mail service thereby releasing the states. 

As to postmasters and postal routes the following 
is taken from the official records at Washington: The 
earliest record sliows Charles Sevins ais postmaster at 
Denton in 1801, followed by Thomas Culbreth in 1810; 
Montgomery Denny in 1811; George A. Smith in 1814; 
William Mulliken in 1815 ; Gove Saulsbury in 1822, John 
E. Wright in 1825; George Martin in 1825, and Oscar 
Jones in 1831. 

The postmasters at Hillsboro were: John Tillottson 
in 1807 ; Francis Sellers in 1811 ; James G. Seth in 1812, 
and David Casson in 1816, and Wm. B. Tillotson in 1831. 

At Greensboro the records show postmasters AVil- 
liam Crawford in 1801; Warner Busteed in 1807; Rob- 
ert Fountain in 1812 ; John Matthews in 3^813 and Wil- 
liam Turner in 1831. 

The earliest record of a postmaster at Upper Hunt- 
ing Creek that could be found was that of John L. Mills 
in 1831. 

One record was found sho^\ing the amounts of post- 
age accruing for the year ending March 31, 1827, at 
Denton $97.22; Greensboro $63.31; Hillsboro $25.48, and 
Hunting Creek $2.24. 

The earliest record noted of post routes was in 1824. 
Route No. 41 apparently began at Easton, running 
through Hillsboro, Denton, Greensboro, Whitelysburg, 
and ending at Frederica. 

In connection with the bid for carrying the mails 
on Route No. 1403, Easton, Maryland to Laurel, Dela- 

—137— 



ware, Eoades Hazzard in liis bid of October 2, 1835, 
states: 

"I will also carry the mail on Route No. 14 03 from Easton to 

Laurel, Del., once a week part of the route say from Easton 

to Seaford in two horse stage or other passage carriage the balance 

of the route on horseback or in sulky for two hundred and forty 

dollars per annum." 

The route started at Easton, Md., Talbot County, 
touching- Upper Hunting Creek, Caroline County; Fed- 
eralsburg, then in Dorchester County, Maryland, and 
Cannon's Ferry, Seaford, Middleford, Concord and Lau- 
rel, Delaware. The contract on Route 1403 was dated 
3d December, 1835. Other bidders were P. Robinson 
and William Heather. 



—138— 



THE PLANTATION. 



HOME OF BETSY BAYNAED AS A TYPE OP EASTERN SHOEE 
SLAVE HOLDER. 

Looking backward to the days when forests stretch- 
ed for miles over an acreage now covered by fertile 
farms, we see about five miles N. E. of Greensboro, some 
distance from the Eastern bank of the Choptank River, 
a small clearing appear. Soon arose a small unpreten- 
tious building typical of its day. Tall pines overshad- 
owed it. At dawn the song of the woodland bird awak- 
ened the sleeper, while during the hush of eventide the 
call of prowling wild animals sent a thrill of fear 
througli the listener. Such in the 17th century was the 
beginning of the Baynard plantation — the largest in the 
Greensboro section — extending over an area of more 
than six hundred acres. 

Time was in the early slave days when tobacco 
flourislied there, and negroes, singing their wierd, mel- 
ancholy songs "toted" the tobacco to their storeroom. 
From thence it was carried over the woodland road and 
delivered at the Avarehouse of William Hughlett for even 
in the 17 hundreds the dense green of Maryland pines 
had given way to the paler green of cultivated fields. 
First the Baynards planted tobacco, but later cereals 
formed the base of income ; while in the last days of the 
plantation, to these were added the returns from tan- 
bark and railroad ties. 

In 1812 "Old Massa Baynard" died and Mistress 
Betty, then sixteen years old, became — under her moth- 
er — the Autocrat of the Plantation. 

TliG home with its rambling negro quarters had been 
enlarged and, while never ostentatious, held old china, 
colonial furniture, a grandfather's clock and other an- 
tiques such as delight the eye. 

There after her mother's death Betsy Baynard lived 
alone save for her house servant, Myna, and two power- 
ful dogs who stood guard day and night. Completing 
this plantation community were her slaves who filled 
their huts to overflowing, at times numbering more than 
two hundred. 

Although not given to slave dealing, at the time of 
enlarging her house to obtain the needed money Betsy 
sold a servant "South into Georgia." 

—139— 



*'They saj^" the cartwliip was daily used as a rul- 
ing power among lier colored people but the blows must 
have fallen lightly for many of her slaves remained con- 
tentedly on her plantation until old and infirm, and when 
she died ten years after Emanci|)ation some half dozen 
of her slaves were yet with her. 

An amusing anecdote of the Baynard slaves relates 
that a young negro, returning from a dance, in the cold, 
gray dawn went to the well for a drink of water. As 
his eye followed the bucket on its descent he saw some- 
thing white. True to race superstition he believed it a 
spirit and ran to tell Miss Betsy of "De hant in de 
well." She returned with him and found a sheep had 
fallen in and all but drowned. 

A tragedy of tlie plantation was the death of Miss 
Mary Reid, a cousin of Miss Betsy's, wlro at times made 
her home there. A slave girl, on being reprimanded for 
some delinquency, took offense and attempted revenge 
on Betsy by way of Paris green. The ]joison miscarried, 
resulting in Miss Reid's death almost innnediately. 

As a memorial to the Baynard generosity stands 
Irving Chapel. Wliile the name is that of the first min- 
ister, the plat of land on whicli Irving Chapel stands was 
donated from the Baynard plantation, and the lumber 
for the building was added on condition that the church 
members cut it from the forest. Miss Baynard also gave 
a sum of money, large in those days and sufdcient for 
church erection. 

Betsy Baynard died without direct lineal descen- 
dant. The land was sold in small sections, and is owned 
]n'inci])ally by Rosanna Richards, G. W. Richards, A. K. 
Brown and J, A. Meredith. 

^Vll that remains to recall the story of other days is 
a portion of the old home which is yet in use by J. A, 
Meredith, and a small family burying ground with three 
markers — 

William Baynard born 1769, died 1812. 
Litia Baynard born 1773, died 1843. 
Elizabeth Baynard born 1796, died 1873. 

Written from material collected by 

Paul Meredith. 



—140— 




SLAVERY. 



7. Origin. 

The period at which slavery was introduced into 
Mai'\dand is somewhat indefinite bnt some historians 
claim Claiborne had negro servants at the time of the set- 
tlement of Kent Island. 

The Royal African Company, chartered in 1618, 
whose chief jjrofits came from tlie importation of negroes 
into the American Colonies was the first organization for 
slave trade. The traffic of this company was greatly en- 
conraged by the King. 

The first record we find of Maryland slaves is that 
of 1708 when the London Board of Trade wrote to Gov. 
Seymonr concerning slave importation by this company 
(Royal African). The Governor in reply stated that 
Maryland trade was not throngh the above company but 
throngli independent traders or ''interlopers," who were 
licensed. 

II. Grouili of Slavery. 

From 1700 to 1750 slavery was rapidly on the in- 
crease. Governor Seymonr in a letter of 1708 said, "At 
present the trade seems to rnn high, there having been 
between six and seven hnndred negroes imported hither 
this year." This increase then changed to a decline 
which soon became rapid. 



—141— 



///. Decline of Slavery in Maryland. 
Scharf says. — 

"In no state of the Union had emancipation so rapidly pro- 
gressed as in Maryland; and while several of the counties had now 
(1833) a larger number of slaves than of white inhabitants, yet 
there were in the state at this time, not only the largest propor- 
tion, but actually much the largest number of free colored people 
of any state in the Union." 

By comparing the census reports we see as follows : 

Years Whites Slaves Free Colored. 

1755 107,108 46,356 

1800 216,356 105,635 19,-587 

1860 516,128 87,188 83,718 

Approximately the change was as follows: 1755 all 
colored people in Maryland were slaves; in 1800 about 
one-fifth were free; in 1860 one-half were free. 

Then, too, free negro property holders were allowed 
to vote in Maryland until 1851, when it was constitution- 
ally restricted. 

An American Colonization Society was formed in 
Washington during December 1816, for the purpose of 
colonizing in Africa free people of color from America. 

In January 1831 Maryland organized an auxiliary 
for the same purpose, McSherry says, "It was there- 
fore determined to establish an independent organiza- 
tion in the state and plant a separate colony under the 
name of 'Maryland in Liberia.' " 

Proving the activity of this body we find that in Oc- 
tober 1831 colored immigrants numbering 31 were sent 
to this colony. Also the December session of Legisla- 
ture made an appropriation of $10,000 each year for 26 
years, to be used for benefit and transportation to Af- 
rica of negroes. In 1852 when this act expired the As- 
sembly reenacted the law to be enforced for six years. 
Then again, at its expiration in 1858 for four more years. 

To again quote from McSherry, 



"We are, therefore, justified in maintaining that no State did 
as much as Maryland toward emancipation and improvements of 
the condition of the African race within her borders. Her early 
statutes protected them from cruel treatment and authorized their 
manumission. She looked to their gradual and voluntary removal 
as the only means of solving the difficult problem which their pres- 
ence involved." 

—142— 



IV. Slavery in Caroline. 

Caroline County was active in these matters and her 
rapidly decreasing slave population shows her attitude. 
Even in the days when this section belonged to Dorches- 
ter and (^)ueen Anne the slave population was small as 
compared with other counties. 

In 1712 Queen Anne and Dorchester, which at that 
time included Caroline County held comparatively few 
slaves. (^)ueen Anne with an entire white population of 
over 3,000 had only 550 while Dorchester with practical- 
ly the same number of whites held only 387 slaves. 

By the census of 1790 we find the highest number of 
slaves held by any one man in Caroline County was 57. 
Tlie holdings of the majority of the people owning slaves 
at all varied from one to five negroes, while of those with 
larger holdings less than fifty families o^vned more than 
ten slaves. 

The following table shows the gradual decrease of 
slaves and the increase of free colored people in Caro- 
line from 1790 to 1840 as well as their number in propor- 
tion to the whites. 



1790 — Population of Caroline County — 1840. 



Year 


Slaves 


Free Colored 


White 


Total 


1790 


2,057 


421 


7,023 


9.506 


1800 


1.865 


602 


6.579 


9,226 


1810 


1.520 


1.001 


6,932 


9,453 


1820 


1.574 


1,390 


7.144 


10,108 


1830 


1,171 


1.652 


6.247 


9.070 



1840 768 1.727 5.373 7.868 



Slave trade was never carried on to any extent in 
Caroline County ; Marcy Fountain and Patty Cannon be- 
ing probably the best known two who ''traded" — that is 
sold South into Georgia. 

Then as Maryland, and with her Caroline County, 
was rapidly transporting or manumitting her slaves 
came the year 1861 and Maryland true to her principles 
stayed in the Union and her spirit is expressed in a quo- 
tation from a prominent Baltimore newspaper of that 
day — ''God forbid tliat a time should come when our 
people shall be unwilling to let the flag of the Union 
float over them." 

—143— 




OLD SLAVE KITCHEN. 



T^. Miscelhuicuus Court Orders. 



An account of tlie sale of a negTess and her child is 
liere given. 

Know all men by these presents that I Jei-emiah 

of Caroline County, planter, have and in the commiission of *he 
summon of sixty pounds of current money to me in hand and be- 
fore the sealing and delivery of these presents by Isaac , 

the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, having bargained and 

sold by these present, do bargin and sell unto the said Isaac 

one negro woman lately the property of Samuel de- 
ceased, called Fann; also her child called Rachel to have and to 
hold the said negroes and each of whom by these presents we bar- 
gined and sold unto the said Isaac , his executors, admin- 
istrators, and assigns for ever, and the said Jeremiah , 

for myself by executors and administrators or any other person or 
persons whosoever shall and will forever warrant and defend the 
same as witness of my hand and seal this sixteenth day of May 
1774. 



—144- 



The followini>- is an account of an unknown master 
giving freedom to four of his slaves. 

I am in possession of four negroes named", Sarah, Lucy, Eve, 
and Pompey and being desirous to give them aU their liberty in a 
legal manner therefore do discharge the said Sarah, from my ser- 
vice from the day and date thereof, and Lucy and Eve and Pompey 
shall be free when they arrive unto the age of twenty and one 
years of age and doth covenant and agree both for myself and for 
my heirs executors and administrators. Lucy was born on the 
fifteenth of August in the year 17 68; the said Eve was born on the 
2 7 day of November 1768 and Pompey was born on the 1th day -f 
September in the year of 1772. 

Given under my hand and seal this nineteenth day of March 
in the year 1774. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Jacob Boone. 

(Seal) 

Various items in regard to slaves which were 
brought up at court are here given. 

March 1776. 

On petition of Nathaniel Potter's negro Pompey, slave of the 
said Nathaniel Potter, is by the Court set levy-free for the future. 

November 17 76. 

On petition of Christopher Driver ordered that he be exempt 
from the payment of any public tax or levy for his old negro man 
Joseph, for the future. 

It was necessary for every colored person viven 
though free to make known to the clerk of the court his 
or her intention to leave the province for a stated time. 

To 

Joseph Richardson, Esq., 

Clerk of Caroline County Court. 

I the undersigned, a free negro of Caroline County, wish to 
visit the city of Philadelphia for the purpose of seeing my brother. 
By an Act of the Assembly, of this State, it is necessary my inten- 
tion of leaving this State should be known to you. It is my inten- 
tion to return here again within three days from this date. 

Given under my hand this 12th day of October IS 41. 

Joseph Bell. 
Test: 

Joshua Jump. 

The Clerk would then issue a certificate like the fol- 
lowing. 

State of Maryland, Caroline County, to wit: 

Whereas application has been made to me by a colored woman 
named Mahala Scott for a certificate of her freedom agreeably to 
the Act of Assembly in such case made and provided by which said 

—145— 



Act, free negroes and mulattoes are permitted to travel out of this 
state, upon the obtaining of a certificate of being free born, And 
wliereas also upon the oath of Sarah Williams, of Caroline County, 
that the said colored woman named Mahala Scott, for whom this 
certificate is made, was free born. I do therefore grant her said 
application and hereby certify that she is seventeen years of age, or 
thereabout, about five feet high, of a complexion nearly black, was 
born and raised in Caroline County, and has a large scar of a burn 
across her right wrist, and a scar of a cut on the inside of her 
right wrist-joint, another scar on her left cheek directly under the 
eye and no other notable mark or scar that I have discovered. In 
testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the pub- 
lic seal of my office this 14th day of March in the year of our Lord 
eighteen hundred and twenty six. 

Richardson, 

Clerk of Caroline County Court. 

VI. Acts of Assembly. 

Ill 1822 laws regarding slaves were enacted as fol- 
lows : 



"BE IT ENACTED By the General Assembly of .Maryland, That 
from and after the first day of October, in the year one thousand 
eight hundred and twenty two, it shall be the duty of the con- 
stables in Worcester and Caroline counties, to arrest and bring 
before a justice of the peace, any slave or slaves that may be going 
at large and bring him, her or themselves within their respective 
hundreds, or who may not have a fixed home in the family or on 
the estate of his, her or their owner, or be hired with his, her or 
their owner." 

"AND BE IT ENACTED. That in all cases where a slave or 
slaves shall or may be brought before a justice of the peace under 
the provision of the first section of this act, if it appear to the sat- 
isfaction of the said justice of the peace, that said slave or slaves 
so arrested and brought before him, were going at large in viola- 
tion of an Act of Assembly passed in April session seventeen hun- 
dred and eighty seven entitled, An Act to prevent the inconveni- 
ences arising from slaves being permitted to act as free, and the 
supplements thereto, or of this Act, he shall forthwith issue an or- 
der to the constable who shall or may have brought the said slave 
or s^laves beiore him, to hire such slave or :'laves for the entire 
balance of the year in which they may have been arrested: and for 
each examination of slave,s had before him under this act, a justice 
of the peace shall be entitled to twenty-five cents, to be levied on 
the county as part of the county expenses for the ensuing year." 

"IBE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of .Alaryland. 
That all such parts of the act of Assembly passed at September 
session, seventeen hundred and twenty three, chapter fifteen, which 
directs punishment of negro or other slaves by cropping their ear, 
be and the same is hereby repealed." 

"AND be it enacted. That for the offense specified in the act 
thus repealed, punishment by whipping not exceeding thirty-nine 
stripes, shall be and is hereby substituted." 

—146— 



The following may serve to show conditions in part: 

In 1858 James Wheeler, a free colored man, living 
near Denton had acquired some real estate through his 
industrious efforts and being desirous of leaving same 
to his children at his death, had to have the Legislature 
authorize him to bequeath his property to his children at 
his death as in the case of white people. Without this 
law his children would not have secured his property by 
will. 

A few interesting extracts from wills probated in 
Caroline County are given as examples of the provision 
for slaves by their masters : 

Two old negroes named Bacchus and Silvey are to be taken 
good care of and well treated by my children. I direct that they 
shall never be sold or disposed of. 

I give and devise to all my negro slaves freedom, liberty and 
freedom. 

I give unto my negro man Essex, two acres of land during his 
life. 

I desire that my son shall receive but one shilling from my 
estate if he refuse to free all his slaves u,pon his becoming sixteen 
years of age. 

I give aird bequeath to my negro woman, named Esther, her 
youngest child named Judy, to her forever. 

I give unto my negro man Will a donation of five pounds cur- 
rent money per year. 

I give unto my son William, old Bet, whose life is to be made 
comfortable. 

CARL^The Last Slave. 

"Gone are the days, when my heart was young and gay. 
Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away; 
Gone from the earth, to a better land I know, 
I hear their gentle voices calling Old Black Joe." 

We found him sitting in the twilight, his eyes clear 
and bright for all his ninety years, Vet filled with dreams 
of the past. We had met his grand children at the door, 
hastening to some entertainment and the room was filled 
with the happy confusion of their outgoing. 

Cheerily he greeted us. Then by degrees we led him 
to talk of bygone days, — his days of bondage. Happily 
he spoke of them, of his home life, of his master, of to- 
bacco days in Maryland. Once when questioned he told 

—147— 



of the fear of being sold to the cotton plantations in 
Georgia. Then his eyes blazed with the fire of youth and 
his voice took on a different tone. 

Once more his mind turned to the happier vein of 
thought and told of driving old Massa to church in 
Greensboro, sitting outside under the rustling green 
trees, listening to the birds and bees until the service had 
ended. "Ah!" he said, "He was a good master." 

Quietly his voice wandered on telling of plantation 
life in Caroline and as the liglit in the room dimmed 
slowly, his gray head sank forward and he sat silent, 
with iais hands resting on his cane, dreaming of the past. 
We rose and passed out into the darkening night, leav- 
ing him there — the last representative of slavery days. 

"I'm coming, coming. For my head is bending low, 
I liear those gentle voices calling Old Black Joe." 

Feb. 21, 1919. T.aura Cochrane, 

After a visit to last slave in Greensboro. 




—148- 




TAVERN OF JOE JOHNSON. 
The Son-iii-Law oi' Patty Cannon. 



Slave Dealers, 



Altlio Maryland was a slave state, it is generally 
known that previons to the Civil War half of her people 
were opposed to slavery and public sentiment strong 
against the slave traffic, which, nevertheless, was car- 
ried on to some extent along the Maryland and Delaware 
peninsula. Chief among the dealers were Patty Can- 
non, Joe Johns(/n and Massy Fountain. 

Patty Cannon and Joe Johnson, her son-in-law, kept 
a tavern at Johnson's Cross Roads, now Reliance. The 
location was ideal for their nefarious i^nrpose, for the 
house was on the border of Sussex, Dorchester and Car- 
oline counties, twenty miles from a court house and ten 
from a town of any size. Under the strangely sloping 
roof of tliis liostelrv was a concealed o-arrct wliicli served 



—149- 



as a pen for captive slaves and free negroes who had 
been kidnapped to sell. Scattered about the counties, 
Patty Cannon had secret places where her agents col- 
lected victims. The poor negroes who were luckless 
enough to fall into her hands were sent to one of these 
hiding places until taken in charge by a southern trader, 
who to prevent any trouble arising during their deten- 
tion and journey handcuffed them together in what was 
known as a "cotfle." 

A force of men was employed to kidnap free negroes 
and indeed stories are told of the like disappearance of 
white people whose complexion resembled that of mulat- 
toes. "Aunt Patty," as she was commonly called, often 
assisted in this work and is credited with captur- 
ing men single handed, so great was her physical 
strength. She is still remembered by a few old people 
in the county as a short, thick-set woman with black hair 
and eyes, vivid coloring, and rather handsome in her 
cold, bold way. 

Joe Johnson was a staunch ally in all Patty's 
schemes. After having been captured in Delaware and 
flogged at the whipping post for some unlawful business, 
he confined his activities to Maryland. 

Not only were Patty Cannon and Joe Johnson ac- 
cused of illegal transactions in connection with the slave 
traffic, but other accusations such as robbing the mails, 
and killing travelers who stopped at the tavern and were 
suspected of having considerable money with them. Af- 
ter years of terrorizing the neighborhood, Patty Caimon 
was delivered b}^ the Maryland authorities to Delaware 
officials. Before the time for her trial, however, she 
died in Georgetowm Jail. This was supposed to be a 
great relief to many prominent people throughout the 
state, as in the course of a court trial they would un- 
doubtedly have been exposed as accomplices in some of 
her questionable transactions. Joe Johnson made his 
escape and no definite information was ever found as to 
his whereabouts. 

Massy Fountain, one of the prominent men in the 
Bridgetown community about 1820, was also a slave 
dealer. Tradition has it that he wa's one of Patty Can- 
non's crowd of kidnappers, but we find no proof of this 
and he was never accused of the other crimes of which 
she w^as instigator. Certain it is, however, that he 
bought and sold slaves. Maryland slave o^^mers, feeling 

—150— 



it a (lisgTace to deal openly for negroes, would secretly 
bring them to Fountain, who in turn would sell them to 
southern dealers. The cellar of the Fountain home was 
used as quarters for the darkies until convenient for the 
dealers to move'them south. This being "sold south in- 
to Georgia," as the slaves termed it, was the greatest 
terror of their lives. 

Fountain was a man of considerable means and 
owned large tracts of land in the county. He was one 
of the most influential men in upper Caroline, and great- 
ly feared in political affairs, until his death in 1864. His 
grave may still be seen in the Bridgetown church yard, 
just over the boundary line in Queen Anne's county. 




EARLY CORN SHELLER. 



-151- 




AN OLD TIME MARYLAND SCHOOL (1838). 

[The Orif/iiKiI ^Possum IhiUnir Scliool). 

The scliool was but a (luartcr of a mile distant from 
home; but to our childish fancies it was so far that moth- 
er .i»-ratined us by puttiuii,' up our dinners in a little bas- 
ket. Oidy bii>' Sister Retta could be entrusted with that 
presious basket, and Emma and I cast many interested 
fiances towards it as, hand in hand, and bearing' the 
books, slates, and inkstand, with goose quills to make 
pens, we proudly marched along the winding highway, 
under the leafless branches of the great white oaks which 
bordered the farther side. 

At last with a gathering grou]) of expectant child- 
ren, and youth of from five to twenty-one years of age, 
we stood before the o]icu door of the new school-house. 
Not that the word new descrilies the house; very far 
from it; but the school was new. The school-master was 
a new arrival in the neighborhood, and the house was 
newly and for the first time used for so noble a purpose. 
Will the reader believe it! The house was really a de- 
serted negro cabin, that stood l)y the highway side, near 



-152- 



Townseiid's Gross Roads, three miles from Dentoi!, t!ie 
county town. For an area of twenty-five sqnare miles 
between that town and the Delaware line, this was tlie 
only school, and this was started by a private subscrip- 
tion managed by my father. The Maryland law, at that 
time, liberally provided that if the people of a neighbor- 
hood would subscribe for the tuition of twelve scholars 
at five dollars eacli, then the State would furnish a like 
amount for the education of the same number of "char- 
ity sccholars." There were no public provisions for 
school houses, and whether there was house or scliool, 
depended altogether upon the character of the popula- 
tion that, amid rural mutations, might happen to gather 
in any given neighborhood. 

This new school and every school in tliat region for 
several years, was in a rented house. This particular 
house was built of logs, the interstices being filled with 
clay to keep out wind and rain. It was eighteen or 
twenty feet square, and about eight feet to the eaves ; 
with a door front and back, each opening outwards. Mid- 
way between the doors and the north end where stood 
the chimney, at a convenient height, part of the log was 
sawed out, the aperture being filled with a three-light 
lianging window, which, as occasion required, could be 
propped up for ventilation. 

Where the chimney stood was an aperture six feet 
wide and four feet high, into which the stone and mud 
walls of the fire-place were built to a height above where 
the blaze of the great log fire would usually reach ; and 
above that point the flue was made of logs and sticks, 
liberally daubed within of clay. At the south end of the 
house, in order to adapt it to its use as a literary insti- 
tution, almost an entire log had been removed. This 
apf rture was covered by a wide board, fastened by hing- 
es to the log above, and secured to that below l)y staple 
and hook. Like the sash before mentioned, this board 
was propT3ed up to admit needed light and fresh air. Just 
below this a|)erture was the writing desk, extending 
across the room against the wall. Here, alternately, the 
girls and boys made pot hooks and liangers with their 
goose quill pens, after the pattern set by the teacher; 
and finally graduated to the distinguished accomplish- 
ment of being able to draw a note of hand or receipt for 
ten dollars, good and lawful money of the United States 
of America, and to affix thereto their own real, written 

—153— 



signatures. The teacher "set the copies" during the 
noon hour ; but made and mended pens at all hours, when 
they happened to be presented for that purpose. Hence 
the name still so commonly applied to the pocketknife. 
It was not unusual to see the teacher dividing his time 
and attention between a page of Comly's spelling-book, 
where some sweating pupil was painfully struggling with 
the problems of orthography, and the quill he w^as slit- 
ting and whittling, meanwhile stealing an occasional mo- 
ment for a furtive glance about the schoolroom, to see 
that there was no pinching, or pin-sticking, or snicker- 
ing behind books or slates going on among the unruly 
urchins. 

In addition to the so-called writing-desk, the furni- 
ture of this schoolroom consisted of a desk and chair for 
the teacher, and three or four slab benches across the 
end of the room, next the writing-desk. In cold weather 
a bench was set near the great fire-place, and was occu- 
pied by alternate platoons of the shivering scholars to 
thaw themselves out. Three formidable hickory rods, 
of varying size and length, adapted to the sex and size 
of the culprits; and a pretty, little, red maple switch, 
suited to the esthetic tastes and tender sensibilities of 
the smaller urchins, completed the outfit. The entire 
curriculum of our school was covered by the three cab- 
alistic letters, R., R., R., understood to represent the 
three great sciences, Readin', Ritin' and 'Ritlimetic. The 
three G's, Grammer, Geography and Geometry, had then 
scarcely been dreamed of as ever possible to be taught 
in a country school. It was not until several years af- 
ter — not indeed until the renowned Chinquapin school- 
house had been built, over a mile away, on the road to 
Punch Hall, that we ever heard of such a study as Eng- 
lish Grammar or Geography. The primer, or rather a 
primer — for it mattered not what it was, so long as there 
were A, B, C's in it — was the text-book most in demand 
at Mr. Marshall's log cabin school. 

Rev. Robert W. Todd, D. D. 



-154— 




—155— 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 



I. Introduction. 

All event that we can always recall as contempora- 
neous with the war for Commercial Iiide])eiideiice is the 
establishment of our system of Free Education. Pre- 
vious to this time the various counties as well as the 
state had given much attention to the education of the 
young, the expense being provided by state appropria- 
tion plus private subscriptions. By this means learning 
had been disseminated extensively but the money was 
not sufficient nor the system efficient. 

//. Free Schools. 

The growing sentiment in every portion of the state 
favoring public education expressed itself through the 
General Assembly in 1812 by a feeble effort to raise 
enough money to establish at least one Free School in 
each count}'. The money for the support of these schools 
was to be raised by requiring the banks of the state to 
bind themselves to pay the sum of $20,000 on or before 
January 1, 1815. This sum to be paid annually was to be 
apportioned according to the capital stock actually paid 
in at the various banks. Other financial matters were in- 
volved in this act and the banks made a vigorous and 
temporarily successful fight against the whole measure. 

In 1813 the school matter again came to the front, 
By the enactment of this year the state required, not the 
payment of a specified sum per annum for schools, but 
instead, an annual tax of 20 cents on every $100 of cap- 
ital stock actually paid in. Connected with this were 
some other conditions relative to the Cumberland Tui'ii- 
pike. Any bank refusing to subscribe to the Act within 
six months forfeited their charter while those accepting 
guaranteed the renewal of their charter for a term of 
fifteen years. Denton promr-ttlv accepted and her Bank 
Charter was extended to 1835. 

This means of raising money was so successful that 
by December, 1816 at the meeting of the Assembly the 
sum was found sufficient for distribution to counties, 
and nine sensible and discreet men called Commissioners 
of the School Fund were appointed in each county. These 
men were to a])ply the ay^portionments in their respec- 

—156— 



tive counties as their judgment deemed best. Caroline's 
commissioners were Col. Wm. Potter, Richard Hughlett, 
Elisha Dawson, Thomas Goldsborough, William Hard- 
castle, Elijah Satterfield, AVillis Charles, Levi Dukes and 
Peter Willis. 

The same session of Assembly also made provision 
to turn over to the counties their respective shares of 
school money — said money to be paid to authorized rep- 
resentatives of the commissioners. To increase the 
school fund it was decided to arrange if practicable to 
draw a lottery for $50,000 each year for five years. 

When this commission of five had organized they 
were to give notice of an election to determine upon a 
site for a school-house and to decide whether it should 
be erected by voluntary contributions, or by a propor- 
tionate tax upon the assessable ])roperly of the section. 

As soon as a suitable school was built in any section, 
the justices of the levy court were apprised, and they in 
return gave a certificate of its establishment, which cer- 
tificate entitled them to their share of the school fund, 
pledged by the Act of Assembly, 1813. 

Notice was to be given of the opening of school, and 
all white children, especially orphans, were to be taught 
gratis in their respective districts, but not beyond the 
"Double Rule of Three" unless with the consent of the 
trustees. After the first year the trustees were to bo 
elected annually by voters of the respective districts, at 
an election held the first Monday in May. 

In 1821, five years after the opening of free schools, 
the Assembly took away all power and authority given 
to the Commissioners of School Fund l)y the Act of 1816, 
and vested it in the Justices of Orphans Court, ordering 
that all monies in the hands of Commissioners be turned 
over to the Justices. The Orphans Court was also em 
powered to appoint five Commissioners in each election 
District, who pointed out to the Court which schools in 
their respective districts were entitled to a part of that 
school fund which was to be annually apportioned. One 
third of the school money in each district was at the dis- 
position of the commissioners to be used directly for the 
education of orphans, or any children whose parents 
were unable to pay. In truth the prime idea in the estab- 
lishing of a state Free School Fund was to provide for 
this class of children and from this it later became known 
as the Charity or Free School Fund. 

—157— 




HOME ECONOMICS EXHIBIT. 




AGRICULTURAL DISPLAY. 



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To still further aid such children the legislature in 
1823 made it obligatory on every college, academy, etc., 
receiving ''state aid" to give tuition to one charity 
scholar for each $100 received — giving both teaching and 
text books. 

We might here make mention of one Act which nev- 
er became active in Caroline County. In 1825 the Assem- 
bly made an enactment providing a State Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, who had almost unlimited powers. 
Tills law became eft'cctive only in the counties which 
adopted it. But six counties, including Caroline, re- 
jected it. 

III. Growth in Caroline. 

For the first thirty years of their existence free 
schools did not progress very rapidly, neither was the 
increase in numbers great in this county. However 
about 1830 a "boom" came, which was somewhat at the 
expense of Academies. Previous to this the Academies 
at Hillsboro and Denton had been receiving largely from 
the state but this fund was now withdrawn and ],)laced in 
the hands of the Orphan's Court to be distributed among 
located free schools. "At this time," it is said, "local 
interest in elementary education was at its zenith," and 
exemplifying this we find a number of free schools built 
from private means of large land owners. Again, in 
1831 the Act relative to state donations to academies in- 
creased that fund in Caroline Co. to $800, the distribu- 
tion giving $250 to the Upper District, $300 to the Mid- 
dle District and $250 to the Lower District to be used 
entirely for Free Schools. At the same time a Com- 
mission was appointed to locate schools, particularly in 
sections without them. This Act was followed in 1832 
by one providing that a sum not exceeding $100 be ap- 
propriated from the sur|)lus in the hands of Orphan's 
Court for the erection of a comfortable school-house on 
each site certified by Commission appointed in 1831 to 
locate new schools. 

The Constitutional Convention of 1851 might be de- 
scribed as a vigorous war of words, at the close of which 
the school question remained practically the same as at 
the beginning. However in 1852 the Legislature made 
progress and provided for the payment of several sums 
of money appropriated previously for the l)cnefit of Free 
Schools. 

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The adoption of the State School Law of 1865 did 
away with many troubles of the Caroline Legislators and 
seemed for a time to solve the problem of Education, by 
centralizing the administration. It gave a State Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction and Dr. Libertus Van 
Boklen was a])pointed to that office. Acting with him 
wa-^ a State Board of Education who jointly appointed 
one Commissioner for each of the four school districts 
of this County. Each Commissioner had entire control 
of the eight or nine schools in his district. He hired and 
discliarged teachers at will, distributed the text books 
for wliicli pupils must pay in advance, etc. In this school 
control the taxpayers were mere onlookers, tliougli 
through no fault of our officials who were very intelli- 
gent and earnest men. To this Board. Mr. William Stev- 
ens, of Denton, recently deceased was Clerk and Treas- 
nrer. 

The law of 1868 wrought another radical change in 
the management of the schools. The power was taken 
from the state and once more put in the hands of the 
people, the office of State Superintendent being abolish- 
ed. At the General Election, voters of each District vot- 
ed for one School Commissioner for that District. They 
also elected two School-House District Trustees. The 
Commissioner of the District made the third member of 
the Board of Trustees. This election was held annually 
on the first Saturday of May. The elective features of 
this law were repealed after one election had been held, 
and the appointment of School Commissioners made one 
of the duties of the Judges of the Circuit Court. Af- 
terwards, as at present, the Governor of the State was 
given the appointing power. For several years minority 
party representation was made compulsory but the 
School Law of 1916 tended to eliminate politics entirely 
and dared not even suggest any term connected there- 
with. 

The personnel of the County School Board in 1867 
was as follows : Rev. Chas. B. Boynton, Dr. M. A. Booth, 
Mr. William S. Ridgely and Col. James E. Douglass. 
The new school law went into effect in 1868 and Col. 
James E. Douglass, Samuel I. Jarman and Robert H. 
Wilson became the new Board which in turn elected 
Rev. Geo. F. Beaven, Secretary and Examiner of the 
schools of the county, the first really provided by law. 
For several years Rev. Mr. Beaven, who was also rector 

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of the Episcopal cliurcli at Hillsboro, faithfully and well 
discharged his duties until he retired in 1882 and was 
succeeded by Prof. James Swann of Eidgely. The Board 
at this time consisted of John F. Dawson, E. E. Goslin, 
and Dr. Enoch George. Prof. Swann continued as Ex- 
aminer untiri886 when he was succeeded by M. Bates 
Stephens, who remained in office till 1900, when he be- 
came State Superintendent of Public Schools, and was 
succeeded in the county position by Prof. W. S. Grouse, 
who had been principal of the Denton High School. 

Until Dr. M. Bates Stephens became State Super- 
intendent in 1900, there had been no real head of the 
State School system since 1867. For a part of this time 
the principal of the State Normal School exercised some 
functions, though his authority was only nominal. At 
another time, S\ E. Fornum, State Institute Conductor, 
had some directing power. 

Realizing the inadequacy of the various scliool en- 
actments prior to 1916 to meet the needs of the times, a 
w^ell organized school law was that year passed, based 
upon a very careful and critical survey of our public 
school system by representative men from our state and 
experienced educators without. 

Caroline's early schools were of two classes, name- 
ly, small free schools promoted by ])rivate citizens of 
means, and Secondary schools or Academies wliich re- 
ceived State aid. Of the first class we will mention three: 
1st— The Bloomery School— In 1798 James Wright, who 
was probably one of the Wright brothers elsewliere men- 
tioned, sold to several persons an acre of land a-nd pro- 
vided a house thereon to be used for a school, reserving 
unto himself and his heirs, one-twentieth of the rights of 
the school thereon esta^blished. The site of this school 
was near the present Bloomery Church. 2nd — Liden's 
Scliool — From the tract of land along the road from 
Andersontown to Smithville a building site was given 
by Deed in 1827 by Shadrach Liden. Thereon was erect- 
ed a building to serve as a house of worshi]) and a scliool 
for the community. 

3rd — Chinquapin School — This l)uiMing stood on the 
road between Denton and Burrsville, and was ])rol)ably 
erected about 1840, as in the records of that time we find 
tlie deed of a site given bv Gove Saulsbury. 

4th — Whiteley's School — This school had been start- 
ed l)efore 1825 by two men. Dr. William Whiteley and 

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Edward Carter, who built it for the needs of the neigh- 
borhood. This school was afterwards discontinued, then 
reopened later by Benjamin Whitely as will be explain- 
ed more fully elsewhere. 

Of the second class or Academies we have two, both 
so noted in their day as to be yet well known. 

1st : The Old Hillsboro Academy. John Hardcastle, 
Jr. donated the land for a section called in the deed 
Hackett's Gardin^s^. The building was begun in 1797 
and was originally intended only for a local school but 
with the passing of the School Act of 1798 it was incor- 
porated as a Secondary School. 

The erection seems to have been entirely from local 
subscription and much generosity in the matter of money 
is credited Francis Sellers. Later aid was received from 
the state. The curriculum first included the elementary 
studies but later the classics were included, until 1844, 
when it was made a ''Primary District." 

2nd : Denton Academy. By Act of General Assem- 
bly, 1804, which supplemented Denton's Charter, one- 
fourth acre of land in the N. W. corner of the public 
square was set apart as a school site. Not until 1808 
was there a centralized effort to build a school but at 
this time they were not successful in so doing. Legisla- 
tive annals show the frequent recurrence of Denton 
Academy legislation followed bv a "donation." Finally 
some time between 1840 and 1845 the building was com- 
pleted largely from accumulated state donations. 

IV. In Conclusion. 

Quoting directlv from Steele we might add, — Caro- 
line was among the foremost of the counties to establish 
a Secondary School a centurv ago; she was among the 
foremost in the eifort to establish Free Primary Schools 
on a practical basis, anterior to the adoption of the State 
school system ; she has been for vears, and is now, among 
the foremost in school enrollment according to popula- 
tion. She stands not verv far from the tor) in per cent, 
of pupils in and above sixth grade and she may be relied 
on to be in the vanguard of educational procession, and 
bearing her little part bravelv if the time ever comes 
and it seems to be coming wlien all the States will be 
banded into an educational system or union with national 
supervision. 

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It seems that public schools for colored children in 
onr county bei^an to be or,2;anized shortly after 1866 by 
virtue of a School Board resolution of that date which 
reads as follows : Resolved — that our Board appropriate 
the sum of one hundred dollars to each school for color- 
ed children that may be started in our county at such 
time as tlie Commissioner of the district where such 
school is to be located, shall report that the colored peo- 
ple of said locality are ready and willino- and able to 
raise such other sum or sums as shall be necessary for 
buildiino- a school house after such model as shall be fur- 
nished by onr Board. The first payment of public school 
tax to colored schools was made in 1869. 

A more complete description of the county's early 
schools may be seen in the sections assigned to the va- 
rious localities. 



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—16 



EARLY FACTORIES. 



As soon as a cominiinity was formed in early Mary- 
land, a grist mill made its appearance, and these were 
the first manufactnring plants of the Colony. The early 
settlers conld make or import their clothing and furni- 
ture, prepare their food locally, but a necessary part to 
every establishment was an old grist miU, on the bank of 
a stream which furnished powder to turn its wheels. 

Of these early mills, Caroline county had its share 
and most of them are standing today, so well constructed 
were they, being chiefly of brick. 

Murray's Mill at Linchester is probably one of the 
first built and best known. Before the Revolutionary 
,AVar this mill which had been established, |)erhaps, as 
early as 1670, belonged to Col. Jas. Murray and during 
the Revolutionary War ground Hour for the soldiers. 
Though rebuilt at \'arious times, a portion of the orig- 
inal structure still stands. 

Records show a lease of the Mill at Potter's Land- 
ing (Williston) in 1778 made between Nathaniel Potter 
and James White, both of this county. A part of the 
lease is here given: 

Nathaniel Potter "Doth grant and let that -Mill, 

on the head of Cokiases Creek, together with four acres of land, 
lying convenient to said Mill, with liberty of timber for use of said 
Mill, and dwelling house now built on said land, to have and to 
hold the said Mill and four acres of land, for and during the term 
of twelve years and every year therefore shall pay the full and 
just sum of 7£ 10s common circulating currency, and to grind the 
said Potter's grain, toll and hopper free, and boult (sift) the same 
for the use of his family: the aforesaid to be paid yearly on the 
first day of January and the said Mill and appurtenances thereon 
to be left in sufficient grinding repair." 

This mill ,seems to have been rebuilt by General 
Wm. Potter on a large scale which included the building 
of a heavy dam (now the state road) and the providing 
of a ship channel up to the mill. This .mill sfill oper- 
ates and is o^\med by W. C. Todd. 

The Brick Mill along the Choptank about three miles 
north of Denton w^as probably built by either Thomas 
Hardcastle or John, his son, both of these men being- 
great builders. The landing at this place was also well 
known in the early times, as it marked the turning ])oint 
of boats ill the rivei' and served as a sliipping centre for 

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a large territory roundabout. This mill was destroyed 
some years ago but the old brick house nearby still re- 
mains. 

Mills, some of them brick and still standing, were 
early established as follows : Bloomery Mill near Smith- 
'ville; Fowling Creek (lower down the stream than the 
present site) ; Hog Creek, Anthony's Mill, Driver's Mill 
(now the water power plant of the Electric Lighting 
'Co.), Nichols Mill (Knott's Mill near Hillsboro), Brad- 
ley's (now known as Crouse's), a mill at Old Town 
Branch which in 1782 was owned by Thomas Goldsbor- 
'ough. 

Only a few years later appeared the up-and-down 
saw mill, several of which were located in the county on 
small water courses. These held sway for many years 
until su'pi)lanted a generation or two ago by steam saw 
mills. 

Tanneries were also quite numerous in the rural 
sections before 1830. The art of tanning had been in- 
troduced into America as early as 1630, the old process 
of using l)ark and lime being, of course, in general use. 

There were several reasons for the early growth of 
this industry — the great cost of imported leather, large 
quantity of cattle and hides, and cheapness of labor. 

While the process of tanning was very slow, the 
quality of the leather produced was much superior for 
endurance than is the product of our miodern manufac- 
tures where hides may be changed into so-called leather 
within 24 hours. 

As is to be expected, there was a tannery located 
in nearly every trading centre of the county at that time 
as at Greensboro, Hillsboro, Potter's Landing, near 
Hunting Creek, and the North West Fork. 

Some iron ore had been found in the county as early 
as 1780 and this together with the State law which en- 
couraged the establishing of iron foundaries, led to the 
starting of at least one or two plants in Caroline County. 

The Douglass brothers, who came from England 
about 1780 and located near Smithville, constructed the 
first foundry, perhaps. One of these men had learned 
the trade of iron master in his home country, which 
largely accounts for his undertaking here, no doubt. It 
seems likely that this plant was not continued very long 
'on account of the poor quality of any ore that may have 
been found. 

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Very early, too, in the county some plow factories 
were erected — the more important ones, perhaps, being 
the one in Denton as described elsewhere and one near 
Beartown an earlv settlement located in the vicinity of 
iMt. Zion. 

Crude as must have been the products of these early 
enterprises when the metal parts of plows were prob- 
ably moiulded as one sin2:le piece of cast iron, this im- 
plement was much superior to the earlier plows and 
ipaved the way for the modern forms of plow machinery. 

Carding of wool for spinning, all of which had been 
heretofore done by hand in the home was given a fresh 
im]ietus when a machine for such a purpose was con- 
structed at Anthony's Mill near Denton, the same to be 
operated by water power. 




SOAP MAKING. 



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THE CIVIL WAR. 



Late ill the year 1860, the people of Caroline County 
were naturally much disturbed at the threatened Civil 
War and disunion by the secession of some of tlie South- 
ern States. Public sentiment divided the people into 
two classes, the larger, j^erhaps, being in favor of main- 
taining the Federal Union; the other class in favor of 
secession. 

Many people who had heretofore been friends were 
bitterly ojjposed to each other — some for the North — 
others for the South. This was the condition in Caro- 
line County when four companies of Union soldiers were 
enrolled in the four centres of the county. 

For some time our people felt the restrictions and 
great inconvenience of army regulations, though not 
much of the time under a military guard. Persons could 
not go to Baltimore, could not return home by boat with- 
out a pass from the Provost-marshal. As the war con- 
tinued, many men were deprived from voting at the gen- 
eral elections, unless they took the oath of "allegiance," 
which some refused to do. 

During this period also, a new Constitution was 
adopted by our state for the purpose of disfranchising 
those who in any way were in sympathy with, aided or 
abetted the soutliern cause. How could such a measure 
be passed when a majority of sentiment was against it 
is explained by Scharf's quotation from the Denton 
Jounuil of tliat time: ''In counting out the ballots in 
this district (Denton), but forty-seven votes appeared 
against the Constitution ; whereas eighty-nine voters 
whose names appear upon the poll-books, have certified 
and propose to swear, that they voted against the Con- 
stitution. Five others likewise signified." Fortunately 
this obnoxious document was set aside at tlie close of the 
War and a new one made. It is likely, too, that some of 
our citizens were inlDrisoned for a semblance of not be- 
ing strictly loyal to the Federal Union. Doubtless there 
was much needless inconvenience and annoyance arising 
from arbitrary acts of soldiers wlio exceeded their au- 
tliority wlieii sus])icions were aroused, but such seem to 
l>e the outcome of civil strife and nearly arwa3^s the ac- 
companying agents. 

The person, perhaps, most directly responsible for 
the unnecessary and unlawful acts of soldiers and guards 

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during the Civil War was not I^incoln, as many have sup- 
posed, but rather his Secretary of State — Win. H. Sew- 
ard, whose bigotry and un-democracy may be readily 
observed from his boastful remark to Lord Lyons: ''My 
Lord, I can touch a bell on my right hand, and order the 
arrest of a citizen of Ohio; I can touch it again, and or- 
der the arrest of a citizen of New York; and no power on 
earth except that of the President can release them. Can 
the Queen of England do as much?" 

Perhaps, several young men from our county with 
courage and strong feelings for "Southern Rights" went 
South and entered tlie Southern Army at the risk or 
sacrifice of their lives in defense of the |)rinciples they 
conscientiously entertained. Unfortunately we have been 
unable to secure the names of but two such 3^oung men — 
Messrs Alexander and Frank Gadd — brothers of our 
former Countian and well known citizen, Col. Luther H. 
Gadd. It was with much difficulty that these and other 
men from Maryland entered the Southern Army. Tlie 
Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay were well guarded 
to prevent just such happenings. 

The story is told of some men from Queen Anne 
county who had planned to drive down to the bay shore 
in Dorchester county and then take a boat to the Virginia 
Shore. To prevent suspicion while on their way through 
Caroline and Dorchester counties, they carried along 
some hunting dogs and whenever they found themselves 
watcluM^ did not hesitate to climb out of the wagon with 
their dogs and spend some time in rounding up the birds 
and rabbits in that section before proceeding on their 
way. 

On the 4th of August ]86"2 President Lincoln order- 
ed a di'aft of three hundred thousand militia for nine 
months, unless sooner discharged, and directed that if 
any state did not furnish its quota of these men, the de- 
ficiency of volunteers in that state would be made up by 
special or individual draft. Of this nundjer, Maryland 
was to furnish 19,000 men and Caroline County 304. As 
231 county men had already volunteered into service, only 
56 were required to be drafted after allowance was made 
for excess apportionment. The long-expected draft took 
place throughout the state on the 15tli of October 1862, 
after the enrollment had been completed. Those draw^i 
for service were notified to present themselves at the 
place of rendezvous within five days. Substitutes were 

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accepted in place of those unwilling to serve in person; 
and a lively business was done in that traffic, prices rang- 
ing from $200 to $600. Some of these substitutes, es- 
caping from the camp of instruction, sold their services 
over again. 

In 1864 another draft of 2000 men from the state 
was made and Caroline County likely furnished about 
thirty. 

Unf(n-tunately we have been unable to obtain a list 
of the drafted men from our county, though a conij^lete 
list of volunteers is given below. 

First Regiment, Eastern Shore Infantry. 

The First Eastern Shore Eegiment of Infantry, 
Maryland Volunteers, was organized at Cambridge, 
Maryland, in September, 1861, to serve three years. 

On the expiration of the term of service of tlie regi- 
ment the original members (except veterans) were mus- 
tered out, and the organization, composed of veterans 
and recruits, retained in service until February 23, 1865, 
when it was consolidated with the 11th Regiment of In- 
fantry. 

Companies A, B, and C were recruited in Dorchester 
County, Companies D, E, F, and G in Caroline County, 
Company H in Talbot County, Company I at Baltimore 
City, and Company K in Somerset County. 

The 1st Eastern Shore Regiment of Infantry, im- 
mediately after its organization, was assigned to special 
duty on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. 

In November, 1861, it formed a part of General 
Lockwood's Brigade in its expedition into and pacifi- 
cation of the Counties of Accomac and Northampton, the 
eastern shore counties of Virginia. 

Upon the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania 
by General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army in June 
1863, the 1st Eastern Shore Reoiment of Infantry asked 
to be sent to the Army of tlie Potomac at the front, and, 
with General Lockwood's Brigade, the regiment was 
transported to Baltimore, and thence marched to the bat- 
tlefield of Gettysburg, which it readied on the morning 
of July 3, 1863, and immediately went into action with 
the 12th Army Corps on Culp's Hill, where it did good 
service. 

After tlie battle of Gettysburg the 1st Regiment, 
Eastern Shore Infantry, continued with the Army of 

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the Potomac until IjOo's Confederate Army was driven 
out of Maryland, when, after a brief duty on the upper 
Potomac, the regiment again returned to the Eastern 
Shores of Maryland and Virginia, where it continued in 
the performance of special duty until its consolidation 
with the 11th Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volun- 
teers. 

During its term of service the 1st Regiment Eastern 
Shore Infantry, marched seven hundred and sixty (760) 
miles, was transported by rail two hundred and eighty- 
three (283) miles and by water one thousand three hun- 
dred and twenty-three (1323) miles. 

The death list of the 1st Regiment, Eastern Shore 
Infantry, during its term of service was as follows : Kill- 
ed in battle, nine (9) enlisted men; died of disease, 
wounds, etc., fifty-two (52) enlisted men; or an aggre- 
gate loss by death of sixty-one (61). 



Roster of Soldiers From Caroline County. 

Conipjuiy D. (Greensboro Section). 



Name Rank 

Wm. H, Comegys Captain 

afterward Lieut. Col. 



Jas. L. Clendening 
Richard H. Comegys 
Marcellus Jones 
Anderson, John 
Anderson, Wm. 
Anderson, Leven 
Adams, Wm. K. 
Baggs, Joseph 
Baynard, John W. 
Baggs, Andrew M. 
Boone. John W. 
Bickling, John S. 
Bickling, Wm. H. 
Bennett, John C. 
Baker, Wm. H. 
Cooper, James 
Carter, Wm. 
Connor, Wm. T. 
Commegys, John T. 
Commegys, Wm. J. 
Cooper, Isaac 
Cooper, John K. 
Colgan, Wm. B. C. 
Chance, Clement 
Carter, Jas. H. 
Cannon, John P. 
Cleaves, Thos. A. 
Carroll, Chas. E. 
Clendening, Robert N. 
Carter, Wm. 



Captain 

1st Lieut. 

2nd Lieut. 

Private 



Sergeant 
Private 



Draper, John W. Private 
Dukes, Geo. W. 

Davis, Wm. F. " 
Donovan, Henry J. 

Downs, Samuel Y. " 

Earickson, Thomas B. " 

Evans, Richard " 
Ford, Wm. H. 

Faulkner, Thos. " 
Gibson. Chas. W. 

Harper, Shadrach " 
Hariington, Thos. E. Musician 

Hubbard, N. Private 

Harper, James S. " 

Harper, Wm. " 

Heather, Theo. " 

Honey, James H. " 

Hobbs, Amos H. " 

Hall, James H. " 

Jones, Richard C. Corporal 

Jones, Samuel T. Private 

Jester, John H. " 

Kemp, John B. Sergeant 

Kirk, George W. Corporal 

Lecompt, John C. Sergeant 

Legar, George P. Corporal 

Lang, John Private 

Lucas, Edward M. " 

McKnett, John R. Corporal 

McClain, Wm. Private 

Mounticue, Robert H. " 

Mounticue, Wm. " 

Mounticue, John " 



—171— 



.Mounticue, Jas. Private 

McGee, Levi 
McCullougli, Thomas 
-McClerkin, Jas. 
Melson, Daniel H. " 

Melvin, Jacob " 

Miller, Augustus " 

McCann, Michael 
Murry, James " 

Noblett, Isaac " 

Outen, Warren " 

Parker. Geo. W. 1st Sergt. 

Poor, \Vm. E. Sergeant 

Pippin, Robert H. Private 

Porter, Robert W. 
Porter, Wni. E. 
Patrick, Noah 



Patrick, Wm. J. 
Rawlings, Wm. P. 
Roberts, Chas. H. 
Rawlings, Henry C. 
Shaw. James H. 
Shubrooks, Wm. J. 
Spry, Wm. G. 
Sloan, William C. 
Shaw. WMlliam 
Turner, Samuel 
Truitt. John 
West, William M. 
Wyatt, Elias 
Whitby. Nathaniel 
Wooters, John W. 
Williams, Benj. 



Company E. (Preston Section) 



Name 
Andrew Stafford 
Jas. R. Hooper 
Jesse W. Blades 
Andrew, Tilghman A. 
Andrew, John W. 
Arvey. John W. 
Andrew. George 
Blades, Eli K. 
Butler, Peter W. 
Blades, Thos. L. 
Bland, Geo. T. 
Brennan, Michael 
Beachamp, Batchelor 
Brumbly, Wm. T. 
Briddle, James 
Baker, Peter 
Butler, Wm. E. 
Corkran, Sol. R. 
Comaskey, Daniel 
Oannon, Jas. H. 
Cicil, George F. 
Cheezum. Wm. 
Covey. Joshua 
Cheezum. Charles H. 
Covey. Richard 
Carlisle, Alex. 
Christopher, Silas 
Carey, George T. 
Charles, Simon P. 
Conaway, William H. 
Carroll, Saulsbury 
Dukes, Geo. T. 
Dukes, Isaac P. 
Dean, Robert H. 
Dillon, James B. 
Dillon. Lewis J. 
Dean, Bennett A. 
Eaton, Wm. H. 
Frampton, Wm. E. 
Frampton, Chas. 
Fluharty, Daniel R. 
Goetchious, John 
Gootee, Kelly 



Rank 
Captain 

2nd Lieut. 
Private 



Sergeant 
Private 

Corporal 
Private 



Sergeant 

Corporal 

Teamster 

Private 



H. 



Corporal 
Private 



Hutchinson, Wm. A. 
Hollis, Wm. H. 
Hammond, James R. 
Hutchinson, Chas. F. 
Holloway, Robt. J. 
Hollis. James M. 
Knox, Samuel F. 
Luer, S-amuel 
Lecompt, Benj. F. 
Legates. Wm. T. 
Lane, William 
Moore, Edward T. 
McNeeae, John 
Mason. William 
-Xiehols, Luke H. 
Nichols. Simon P. 
Patton. Wm. I. 
Perry. William E. 
Perry, Chas. W. 
Pool, Levin 
Patton, Joseph 
Potts, William 
Ross, Wm. H. 
Ross. Josiah B. 
Richardson. John T. 
Rose, Joseph 
Stewart, Wm. G. 
Tow-ers. Wesley 
Turner, Robt. H. 
Towers. Thos. P. 
Townsend. Alfred 
Townsend. Joshua 
Turner, Jas. H. 
Turner. John R. 
Trice, John W. 
Trice, Andrew ^I. 
Ternngton, Geo. 
Windsor. Wesley W. 
Walker, Robt. F. 
Wilson, Jas. V. 
Watson. William 
Waterman. Geo. 
Williamson. Warner 
Walker. Thomas 



Private 



Corporal 

Teamster 

Private 



Corporal 
Private 

Musician 
Private 



Sergeant 

Corporal 

Musician 

Private 

1st Sergt. 
Private 



1st Sergt. 
Corporal 

Private 
Musician 

Private 
Sergeant 

Private 



Corporal 

Private 



Corpora! 
Private 



—172— 



Oompjiiiy F. (DeutM)u Section), 



Name 
Thos. Numbers 
Jas. B. Austin 
Hobt. J. W. Garey 
Anderson, Wm. 
Andrew, Petter 
Andrew, Matthew .M. 
Andrewson, Geo. 
Atkinson, William W. 
Atkinson, Wm. 
Alberger, Nathan F. 
Andrew, Jas. E. 
Ayers, John H. 
Busteed, Richard M. 
Barkley, Andrew 
Barwick, John 
Beck, Josiah 
Brannock, Sam. C. 
Barnick, Jas. A. 
Butler, James H. 
Baker, Thos. P. 
Cooper, Nathaniel G. 
Cooper, Wm. W. 
Collison, Jos. A. 
Christopher, John E. 
Cooper, Sam'l. J. 
Cooper, John 
Conoway, Francis 
Dean, William T. 
Dickerson, Philip S. 
Eaton, John F. 
Flanagan. John 
Farley, John 
Gordon. Chas. L. 
Griffith. John H. 
Hammon, Thos. L. 
Harvey, Chai'les 
Hickson. Andrew 
Joiner, Robt. H. B. 
Kirkman, Isaac A. 
Lecompte, Alex. 
Long, Alex R. 
Love, Thomas 



Rank 

Captain 

1st Lieut. 

2nd Lieut. 

Private 

1st Sergt. 
Corporal 

Private 



Sergeant 
Private 



Sergeant 

Corporal 

Private 



Corporal 
Private 



Corporal 
Private 



McNutt, Wm. Private 

Moore, John D. 

-McCaslin, Russell Y. Corporal 

Morgan, Wm. F. Private 

Morgan, George " 

McQuay, Chas. E. 

Maloney, John " 

Pinkine, Francis E. 

Pierce, Wm. M. " 

Porter, Joseph 

Pool, Daniel " 

Parker, Thos. H. ' 

Philips, Geo. W. 

Philips, Wm. " 

Philips, Peter D. 

Porter, Francis A. 

Roe, Thomas 

Robinson, Wni. E. Teamster 

Roe, Alex. Private 

See, James Sergeant 

Sorden, Robt. H. Private 

See, Dallas M. Corporal 

Sorden, Wm. T. Sergeant 

Sherwood, Geo. C. Corporal 

Scott, Hezekiah Private 

Stafford. Wm. P. 

Spenee, James H. " 

Syphers, Francis 

Scott, Aaron " 

Tharp, Phineas " 

Thomas, Samuel " 

Thomas, John R. " 

Thomas, Sam'l E. 

Voss, Holidav " 

Willis, Chas. H. 

Wothers, Jas. W. 

Wilson. James A. " 

Webber, Wm. T. 

Webber, Jas. T. 

Wothers. Daniel " 

Webber. Wm. S. 

Williams, Geo. W. 



<'<mii)an.v (i. ( Fedora Isbiirij Section), 



Name 
Alburger, Wm. H. 
Andrew, Isaac W. 
Andrew, Zach. 
Andrew, Wm. E. 
Bannnig, Asbury 
Banning, W^m. H. 
Bending, Alex. E. 
Burke, Jas. T. 
Cohee, Levin W. 
Cohee, Mitchel H. 
Corkran, Wm. E. 
Carroll, John W. 
Collison, Levin R. 



Rank 
Corporal 

Private 



Corpo'al 
Private 



Charles, Ezekiel A. Private 

Corkran, Sydnaham 

Corkran, Wm. J. 

Collins. James C. " 

Camper. Wm. H. " 

Davis, James W. Corporal 

Davis, Chas. M. 

Davis. Solomon C. Private 

Dixon, George S. " 

Emmerich, John W. " 

Flowers, Alcaid N. " 

Flowers, Wesley " 

Flettwood. William W. 

Gray, Wm. L. " 



— 1 



/o- 



Griffith, John S. Private 

Hirt, VV m. T. 

Hill, Jeremiah " 

i-leiiimons, Wm. J. 

Hines, James W. 

Insley, Elijah 

Jester, John F. " 

Jester, James A. " 

Jester, Mark A. " 

Jennings, John J. " 

Jones, Chas. W. " 

Kenney, Jos. T. Sergeant 

Keys, Wm. VV. 

Lloyd, Jacob W. Private 

Lloyd, Edward 

Lloyd, Thos. F. 

Lowe, Wm. T. " 

Lowe. Marvel R. 

Lankford, David E. " 

Lewis, Noah F. " 

Moore, Daniel W. IstSergt. 

Mowbray, Jacob T. Musician 

Malloy, John W. Private 

Moore, Chas. F. " 

Milligan, Jas. H. 

Milman, Elijah S. 

McCullough, John 



McColister, Benj. 
Marine, Matthew F. 
Neal, Cyrus 
Payne, Covey 
Payne, John W. 
Pattison, John 
Payne. W^m. J. 
Poundon, Robert 
Randolph, Jno. W. 
Stokes, John H. 
Stokes, Geo. W. 
Smith, Chas. F. 
Smith, Levin 
Smith, Benj. S. 
Sutheralnd, John W. 
Trice, John H. 
Truitt, Benj. 
Tull, John W. 
Thomas, Tilghman H. 
Wheatley, Wm. T. 
Williams, Jas. H. 
Williams, Wm. H. 
Williams, Thos. F. 
White, Henry 
Wright, Twiford N. 
Wright, Sam'l J. 
Wheatley, Edward H. 



Private 



Sergeant 

Musician 

Private 



Teamster 
Private 



Sergeant 
Private 



MARYDEL VICINITY. 

MaRYDEL ( HaLLTO WN ) . 

About 1850, William Hall purchased a large tract of 
laud. Tliis tract covered part of two counties, Caroline 
Couuty, Maryland, and Kent County, Delaware. It was 
covered by a forest. 

In a short time a small cleariuo; was made by means 
of axes. On this clearing William McKnett built a saw- 
mill, where trees were made into lumber for building 
purposes. 

The first house built and owned by William Hall 
was just across the Delaware line. Part of the house 
was a slioe shop, where tlie owner made and sold shoes. 
This house is still standing, but is used as an outbuilding. 

Halltown, as it was then called, consisted of three 
liouses. This name was kept three years. It was then 
cliauged to Marydel, taking its name from the two states 
in whicli it was located. 

Erection of Hotels mid Store. 

Shortly after the founding of this little village, John 
Walters erected a building which served as a hotel and 
bar. In a short time two others were erected. One of 
tliese was built by George Jones, who not being able to 
secure a license for a bar, sold the building, which was 
afterwards used as a dwelling. 

The first store was owned and kept by James Smith. 
The building is still standing and is occupied by Thomas 
McGinnis, as a dwelling. 

Industries. 

In tliose early days the inhabitants provided food 
for the winter days. This was partly done by means of 
evaporting fruit. So title of this kind of work could be 
done by hand that it was found necessary to build a fac- 
tory for this purpose. Tlie first enterprise of this kind 
was carried on by Joseph T. George. It is said that this 
one was the largest of its kind on the Eastern Shore of 
Maryland. 

—175— 



The First School. 

Perliaps you are wondering where the children first 
went to school. A room in the "Evaporator" was used, 
and the school master was William Jarman. 

Later a school house was bulit about a mile from the 
village, on the Maryland side. The children attended 
this school until it closed for vacation, which w^as earlj^ 
in the s])rnig. Theye were then allowed to attend the 
school on the Delaware side by paying the small tuition 
of one dollar per month for each child. 

First School oil Delaware Side. 

This school was a two-story building, which served 
as a school house and church. The first floor was used 
for school purposes and on the second service was 
held each Sunday provided a minister could be secured. 

Boys and girls in those days were compelled to at- 
tend Sunday School twice each Sunday, morning and 
afternoon. 

The First Church. 

The first building which was erected and used for re- 
ligious service was the M. E. Church, South. 'This build- 
ing was about one-cjuarter of a mile due north of the vil- 
lage, on the right hand side of the railroad, just across 
the Delaware line. The land surrounding the church 
w^as used for a cemetery. 

In 1871, the first M. E. Churcli was built, having as 
its minister A. S. Mowbray. 

Another cluirch was added to our number in 1918. 
This one was the Roman Catholic. 

Our Bail road. 

If I were to ask you liow people travel today you 
wo'hl say first of all by automobiles, motor-cyles, the 
anto-ltus, and then horses, buggies, carriages, and farm 
wagons. But if I were to ask your grandfather how he 
traveled when hi' was a l)oy I would have a different 
story. 

In those days there were no automobiles and ver}^ 
few railroads in (uir country, and the railroad which we 
see from our windows was not tliere. 

—176— 



The railroad which passes through our town (a 
branch of the P. B. & W. road) began at Clayton and 
was laid to a point tlien known as Jack's Bridge, between 
Kenton and Hartly. In a short time another strip con- 
nected this point w^ith Marydel, 'The third strip reached 
to Greensboro, and thence to Oxford, which was the 
terminus. 

The first station-agent (Joseph T. George) occupied 
a very small building which still stands and is now used 
for a dwelling. 

After the railroad extended as far as Oxford, ex- 
cursions were frequent. This story has come to us : One 
day a lady was to take her first ride. She was standing 
on the platform when the train came in, but made no ef- 
fort to get on. When the train had gone someone noticed 
her still standing on the platform and asked why she liad 
not gotten on the train. She replied, ''Well, I thought 
the train took the platform along." 

A Duel. 

Back in the 70 's occurred an incident which served 
to arouse our then sleepy burg and furnished food for 
gossip for many days to come. It was the "Fighting of 
a Duel," the stage for which was set not far from the 
site of our present school. 

The principals were of national and later of inter- 
national fame; James Gordon Bennett, famous journal- 
ist of New York and Paris, and William May, noted club- 
man, traveler and explorer. While the encounter amount- 
ed to but little at the time, it was said to have caused 
Bennett to move to Paris, where he died in 1918 pre- 
ceded bv a few months bv the death of Mav in Washing- 
ton, D. C. ■ 

TempleviUe. 

About two miles to the north-west of our little vil- 
lage is another village which was formed before our own. 
In the early times it is said Patty Cannon's agents were 
busy in that part of the county. They would buy slaves 
and bring them to this village and hide them. The slaves 
were hidden in the attic of the hotel, wlilch was then 
kept by Henry Whitoley. This kind of work di<l not meet 
the approval of the proprietor, but when travelers came 
for lodging they were compelled to care for the slaves 
also. 

—177— 



Choptank Biver. 

About one-foiirtli of a mile east of Marydel is the 
source of the Choptank River. It begins as a tiny stream 
and widens until it becomes a ditch twenty feet in width. 
It keeps widening as it gently flows along, until w^e find 
a large pond. The waters of this ]3ond turn the wheels 
of a mill known as the Choptank Mill, now owned by 
John Medford. This pond furnishes good skating for 
the girls and boys of the surrounding country. AYe find 
this stream winding its way through beautiful groves 
until at last we have the grand old Choptank. 

We are told in one of the groves along the west 
bank of the Choptank may be found a mound which was 
once the resting place of an Indian Chief who belonged 
to the tribe of Indians that made their homes in that 
portion of this countv. This Chief's body was, in later 
years, removed to Baltimore and kept as a relic of the 
past. 

Maud Hummer and Pupils. 

The Marydel Duel. 

The recent death of one of the jDrincipals, James 
Gordon Bennett, of Paris, formerly of New York, re- 
calls the duel which took place here in 1876. In some 
way Mr. Bennett and Fred May, of Baltimore, became 
estranged, presumably on account of the breaking of a 
matrimonial engagement by Mr. May's sister. A ''field 
of honor" was deemed necessary. A challenge was giv- 
en and accepted. Pistols were selected as the weapons 
and the authorities of five states became vigilant to pre- 
vent the duel. 

May was the first to fire. He missed, but by so slight 
a margin that the bullet clipped a lock of hair from Ben- 
nett's head. Then Bennett's pistol was raised slowly 
until it pointed directly at May's chest. There was a 
tense second ! Calmly and deliberately Bennett then 
pointed the pistol upward and discharged it into the air. 
The dueling partv and ])rincipals escaped arrest bv 
flight. 

The arrival at Marydel that cold, damp December 
morning of the dueling party, or rather the two parties, 
was unaccountable and the meaning of the visit was not 
known by the residents of the town and vicinity for sev- 

—178— 



eral liours after the meeting'. In the party were eight 
good looking yonng men, all dressed in fine apparel, sev- 
eral of them carrying blankets in their arms, it being 
later inferred that the lilankets were to be used in case 
of death or wounding of the men. They left the train 
immediately after its arrival and walked south down the 
track, one man of the party remaining at Marydel. The 
man left behind proceeded to make arrangements for 
teams to take the eight men away in a short time, giving 
one excuse or another for the visit of the strangers and 
their hasty departure. He climbed on the top of a box 
car on the siding and with a field glass watched the party 
as it proceeded to a secluded spot in the distance. The 
farmer who lived nearest to this spot heard two pistol 
shots and then after a short time the duelists and the 
friends of each man came back to town. Bennett mth 
his second, surgeon, and one other going to Clayton by 
a carriage, and May and his chosen ones to Dover, where 
they still eluded identification, and escaped. 

This affair is said by many who were close to Ben- 
nett to have been the real cause of his self-expatriation, 
since it was the only way by which it gave rise. He spent 
nearly all his time in Europe after the event of Marydel, 
but he developed in New York one of the finest news- 
paper properties in the world. 

EDINBURGH. 

This school which was organized about 1892 took its 
name from the tract of land on which it was erected. 



—179- 




Meredith House, Henderson. 
Old Mud Mill. 



-180— 



Pippin's Cliurch. 
Henderson School. 



HENDERSON LOCALITY. 

Henderson — Its Eably History. 

Arrow heads, stones, axes, and other Indian relics 
have been found in the gardens and fiehls of our neigh- 
borhood, so we know that long ago Indians lived where 
we live today. 

The many patlis tliruiigh the forests proved that 
rabbits, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, foxes, deer, and 
bears were once plentiful ; but there came a time when 
pioneers came and made it necessary for the Indians, 
and the larger animals to move farther inland; and 
there came a time when our village began and this is the 
way it happened. 

At the close of the eighteenth century there was a 
man by the name of Edward Thawley who owned the 
little farm now known as ^'Tlie Carmine Place" or "The 
Carrow Place." 

A widowed daughter, a Mrs. Patrick, with several 
cliildren, came to live with her father, Edward Thawley. 
Among these grand children was one very amiable maid- 
en named Elizal^eth Patrick. About 1831 a young man 
from Delaware, Joshua Meredith, came a wooing this 
Elizabeth Patrick and in 1833 they were married in 
Busic's Church. Their first home was on the farm now 
owned by Alonzo Cohee. 

When Edward Tliawley died this Joshua and Eliza- 
beth Meredith came into possession of his little farm, 
and in 1849 they built the house which now stands on this 
land. 

The cross roads in our town was first called Mere- 
dith's Crossing for this familv of ^Merediths. 

Joshua Meredith died 1851. In 1880 Elizabeth Mere- 
dith married John Wesley Carmine, and they continued 
to reside in her old home. Mr. Carmine died in 1891. 
Mrs. Carmine died July 6, 1899. They were buried in 
the "Gibson Burying Ground," which is on Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Dills' farm near Henderson. 

Tlie name Henderson was given to the town in 1868 
for a Mr. Henderson who was a stockholder or director 
of the Delaware and Chesapeake Eailroad. 

The first two houses in our village were built in 
1866 for Joseph Wilson, who for many years resided in 
Barclay. The store now occupied by Edgar McKnett 
and the house just east of this store are those two houses. 

—181— 



Our School. 

The earliest records known to us of a school for this 
community show that a school known as ''Cool Spring" 
stood on a site a few yards northeast of Harry Melvin's 
house. The name "Cool Spring" came from a spring 
which was just across the road. 

Tlie earliest trustees on record for "Cool Spring" 
were William Wilson, William Hynson, and Robert Cul- 
breth. Some of the "Cool Spring" teachers were Mr. 
Tarr, Benny Barnes, Bee Hynson, Bob Booker, and An- 
gie Downes Clark. 

About 1873 an attempt was made to move Cool 
Spring schoolhouse to the site where the present school- 
house building stands, but the old schoolhouse fell down 
on the way. School was then kept for a time in the 
house now occupied by Mrs. Blanche Pippin, or in a 
l)uilding near it called "Gough's Shop." In 1874 a one- 
room building was erected by Charlie Gfibson and Thom- 
as Jones of Henderson, on the spot just north of the 
intermediate room of the present building. The first 
teacher in that building was William Straughn, In 1891 
another school room was added. The contractor was 
Edward Insley of Greensboro. In 1911 the original 
school room was sold to Carroll Johnson and moved. It 
is now used for a dwelling house. Two new school- 
rooms were added to tlie one that was built in 1891. The 
builder was William Reed of Henderson. The first 
teachers to occupy the building after it was remodelled 
were Foster Davis, Louise Higgins, and Olivia Coffin. 

Our Church. 

The first meeting house remembered by our oldest 
residents was a Methodist Church that stood on the 
north-west corner of Melville's Crossroads. When it 
was abandoned as a place of worship in 1854, it was used 
for a stable. Later it burned. In 1854, on the south- 
west corner of Melville's Crossroads a new church was 
built. It was called Pippin's Church. 

The next church for this vicinity stood where the 
present church stands. It was dedicated in May 1889. 
Its first pastor was Albert Chandler. Its last one was 
Charles D. Sharpless. 

In May, 1919, this church was torn down and a new 
one erected on the same foundation. It was dedicated 

—182— 



September 14, 1919. The minister in charge of the morn- 
ini>' service was Rev, Dr. Wise, district superintendent. 
The afternoon service was conducted by Rev. Mr. Leach 
of Greensboro Methodist Church. In the evening the 
late Dr. Clinton T. Wyatt, once a first district resident, 
and one of the Wilmington Conference's most able min- 
isters, preached. The entire indebtedness on the church 
was raised that day. The ])astor is Charles D. Sharp- 
less. 

Our Mill, 

It is hard for us to imagine a time when grain was 
crushed, by hand, at home, on farms in a stone or wood- 
en mortar. 

It is harder still for ns to think of the little hand 
mills which served their day. There was a time in the 
history of our own community when farmers went to 
mill just as they did in any other pioneer community. 
Try to ]jicture a grain sack thrown across the back of a 
horse, the farmer astride, and a ride through the woods 
to the mill by the trails worn by Indians. 

You would expect to find a mill in the region of run- 
ning water, for those were the days of water-power, so 
on the Clioptank River that is about two miles east of 
Henderson you will find the original mill in this vicinity. 
This mill is locally known as ''The Mud Mill." Legally 
it is known as "The Choptank Mill." It is now owned 
by John B. Medford. We have not learned what date 
the mill was first operated, but we have been told it was 
in operation 97 years ago and the appearance of the 
building insinuated tliat it was an old uiill then. 

Our Post-Office. 

J. C. Koons, first assistant post-master general, 
wrote that the records sliow that the first post-office for 
the vicinity Avas estal)lished February 2, 1855 and John 
J. Fisher was appoiuted post-master at Melville's Cross- 
roads. 

In those days mail was driven from Easton to tlie 
head of the Sassafras River. Melville was on that route. 

The name Melville came from a Tliomas Melvin, 
the man who built the early buildings at Melville's Cross- 
roads. The name of our post-office was changed to Hen- 
derson July 21-, 1868 and William L. Clough was appoint- 
ed post-master on tliat date. 

—188— 



Our Railroad. 

Tlic railroad that passes tlirougli our town is tlie 
Delaware and Chesapeake. It is said that the railroad 
came thron^'h Henderson in 1868. 

The first depot stood in front of the house where 
Alda Montague lives. When it was opened a Western 
Union telegraph instrument was installed. The first 
agent was John Richardson. 

When the line was first opened there was but one 
engine. It made two trips a day, one w\) and one do\\m, 
carrying both freight and passengers. It burned noth- 
ing but wood. That engine was called ''The Baltimore." 
The next engine that came into use was called "General 
Tilgliman."' 

In 1891 the first depot of Henderson was moved to 
Chapel, Md. A building was brought here and put on 
the site of the i^resent depot. In 1903 the present build- 
ing was moved here from Greenspring, Delaware. 

Our Telephone. 

In 1904 the Diamon<l State Telephone line reached 
Henderson and a pay station was established in Clar- 
ence Hallingsworth's store. 

Drama — ''Stage Coach Days.'' 

Time — After supper. 

Place — Grandmother's sitting room. 

Characters — Grandmother — Bertha Meredith. 
Grandson — Jacob Melvin. 

Spinning wheel and fireplace used in this drama. 

Jaco'b: Grandmother, we were talking to-day at school about 
the early days of Henderson — the time when you were young, when 
the Xewlees, Merediths, Patricks, Ayres, and Culbreths lived 
around here. Tell me about the trains those days. 

Grandmother: Trains, why bless you child there were no 
trains here those days. No indeed, people around Henderson saw 
no trains, when I was a girl. 

.Jacob: Why grandmother how did people get from one place 
to another, and how did you get mail? 

Grandmother: Those days people rode on horseback then, too, 
stage coaches jogged over the sandy roads to carry passengers and 
mail. The stagecoach that came nearest to us came from Easton 
and went to the head of the Sassafras River. It stopped at Mel- 
ville, for our postoffice was there then. 

Jacob: How did people know when the stagecoach was com- 
ing and where did they wait for it if they wanted to take a ride? 

Grandmother: Tra — ra — ra — the postillion would blow his 
horn long and loud as he neared villages, crossroads, or inns. 
County folks all around would gather at the stopping places to see 
the stagecoach pass. This didn't happen every day remember, once 

—184— 



or twice a week pevliaps. (Grandmother looics over her glasses 
and says: ) 

Ah! those were merry days, and it was a jolly time when the 
old stagecoach drew up before the postoffice door. While the mail 
was taken off, if any passengers were waiting they took their seats 
in the coach if the day was rainy; or on the top if the day was 
warm and fair, travelers chatted with the country folks who had 
gathered to hear the news. When all was ready the postillion blew 
his horn the driver ciacked his whip, the people cheered and amid 
the barking of the dogs which had come along with their masters 
the coach was off on its journey. 

Ah! those were merry days. Will I ever forget them! (Grand- 
mother takes off her spectacles, wipes them, puts them on again.) 

Jacob: What became of the stagecoaches, grandmother? We 
never see them now. 

Grandmother: When this Delaware and Chesapeake Railroad 
came through Henderson the stagecoach seemed old fashioned and 
slow but that is another story for another day when you want to 
hear more about Henderson's early history. 

Olivia M. Coffin. 




HOMINY MORTAR & PESTLE. 



—185— 




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—186— 



GOLDSBORO. 

The history of Goldsboro dates back to the comple- 
tion of the D. & C. railroad in 1867. At this time there 
were only three houses in the village, with a population 
of nine persons. It was then called OldtoAvn, as it was 
situated on Oldtown Lane. 

As everyone knows, a railroad is always an advant- 
age to a section through which it runs, so the country 
folks around soon become interested, and one of their 
first desires was to give the village a more modern name. 
Therefore in 1870, as the land surrounding the village 
was owned by Dr. G. W. Goldsborough, the name was 
changed from Oldtown to Goldsborough. 

In 1871 the road running to Sandy Island was open- 
ed, and in 1873 the road running north past the Hard- 
castle farm was opened. A few years later a cannery 
was built by Mr. Robert Jarrell. This is still in opera- 
tion. 

The first merchant was Thomas E. Smith, of Dela- 
ware. He was succeeded by Isaac J. Reed, who was 
burned out. The railroad facilities, and canning indus- 
try caused growth of the village. In 1889 Mr. T. Jarman 
opened a store. In 1907 Mr. J. F. Lane opened one. 
These were followed by Mr. A. G. Dennison, Mr. A. C. 
Smith, and Mr. H. L. Morris. The population inci-oased 
until it now numbers about two hundred. 

Castle Hall, the ancestral home of the Hardcastle 
family, is located a little to the north of the village. 

Thomas Hardcastle, the founder of this estate and 
the builder of the present building at present owned and 
occupied by J. Spencer Lapham, purchased several hun- 
dred acres of laud from Capt. John Fauntlerov about 
1775. 

It seems likely that shortly after Thomas Hardcastle 
settled at Castle Hall a school was provided, a piece of 
land being set apart for the purpose and a building erect- 
ed. This seems to have been the original Castle Hall 
School. 

"With the growth of the community tliis scliool be- 
came semi-private and was attende<l by the boys and 
girls of tlie neigld:)orhood. 

Started about 1820 Castle Hall served as a site for 
the school for the white children until 1898 when the 

—187— 



front of the Goklsboro school was erected and Castle 
Hall school given over to the colored people. 

The church which belongs to the Southern Methodist 
denomination was built in 1871 through a committee of 
five men, one of whom was Robert Jarrell, father of 
the present Robert Jarrell, Sr. The site was granted by- 
Thomas Jones. 

Before the erection of the church, Sunday School 
was held in the old Dennison home on the Henderson 
road. 

By 1909 Goklsboro had grown to be a prosperous 
village with considerable banking business. To meet this 
situation several representative men organized a state 
bank, rented a room in Jarman Bros, building, and began 
business. By 1912 business had grown so rapklly that a 
new building was found necessary and was built the same 
year. 

Sandy Island bridge which spans the Choptank river 
a mile east of the village is a concrete structure 200 feet 
in length and was completed in 1919. By means of this 
bridge and the excellent shell road leading into Dela- 
ware, Goklsboro has become the shipping centre for a 
large territory extending east, and perhaps ranks next 
to Ridgely as a forwarding point. 

BRIDGETOWN. 

Nine Bridges, latterly called Bridgetown, is a small 
village located near the Queen Anne county line. This 
settlement has the distinction of being the first incorjio- 
rated village in our county, as well as being a well known 
trading centre nearly one hundred years ago. 

Located, as i't is, near the headwaters of the Tuck- 
ahoe river, the causeway leading into Queen Anne coun- 
ty was at one time said to have nine small bridges which 
have been gradually reduced in number to a single con- 
crete structure of considerable size. 

When the county was young, a family by the name 
of ]\lason was so prominent in this section that the 
branch nearby took its name therefrom. 

In this section also in Revolutionary War times a 
company of soldiers was assembled, some of whom per- 
haps entered the service. 

Another indication of the early importance of the 
place is seen in the establishment of a church just 
across the line on the Queen Anne side. At tliis time 

—188— 



nincli rivalry existed between the villages of Hillsboro, 
Greensboro, and Bridgetown, each of which fought for 
the honor of having an P]piscopal church erected within 
its limits. Hillsboro won out, but soon after a chapel 
was erected at Bridgetown, bricks, shells, mortar, etc., 
for which were hauled from a wharf along the Choptank 
river. 

From 1830 on until the Civil War Bridgetown was 
the home of a noted citizen and slave trader — Marcy 
Fountain, whose remains were interred in the village 
church yard. The house in which this man lived is still 
standing in the village. A cellar beneath is pointed out 
as the dungeon in which slaves were confined either 
for safekeeping or disobedience. It is supposed he was 
associated in the slave trade with Patty Cannon, a well 
kno^^^l character residiug near Federalsburg. 

In this locality also, one of the first canneries of the 
Eastern Shore is supposed to have been located. Tliis 
was in 1867. Peaches were the fruit canned. 

Earlier than tliis a hotel and tavern were kept in a 
brick building which has ceased to exist. 

Long before 1865 a public school existed in the 
neighborhood. Bridgetown is on the proposed line of 
the state highway extending from Ridge'ly to a point be- 
yond Goldsboro. 

AVith the rising energy of the present generation, 
who knows but what this heretofore sleep}^ village will 
outdistance its competitors! 

BEE TREE. 

For nearly one hundred years the neighborhood of 
which the present Bee Tree school is the centre has been 
known by the name of Bee Tree, presumably called b}^ 
virtue of there being so many swarms of bees in this 
section. 

For years this community has supported a school, 
public or otherwise, and history recalls that many well 
known persons have either studied or taught in this in- 
stitution. Trustees for the school were first appointed 
by the School Commissioners in 1865. 

In 1886 the present site was purchased from Thomas 
D. Merrick and a new building erected. This school is 
located not far from Melville's Cross Eoads, a well 
known place during the time of the late Wm, H, Casho. 

Because of tlie inaccessil)ility to trade, many Tories 

—189— 



li\'e(l in this section dnrin«; the Revolutionary War and 
made trouble for tlie American cause. Later on the sec- 
tion was made famous by the legislative efforts put forth 
to drain the surrounding territory — a thing which was 
never fully realized. 

BARCUS. 

Barcus school, better known as "Dogwood College," 
has been for thirty years situated on the road leading 
from Greensboro to the Union colored settlement. 

Originall.y named for the person who owned much 
land in the connnunity and contributed the first site, it 
has had at least three locations and as many buildings. 
The present building was erected in 1895. 

Owing to the school's being once nearly surrounded 
l5y dog wood trees, the term "Dog^vood College" has 
tenaciously clung to the little institution. 



—190— 




MOORE'S. 

In 1856, Thomas Moore came from Sussex Ooiinty, 
Delaware, and bought a large tract of land for fifty cents 
an acre along the east side of the Choptank river, ex- 
tending from the. shell road to what is often called the 
Zinnnerman farm. On this land he built a grist mill and 
a saw mill. 

Mr. Moore, seeing the need of educational facilities 
for his neighborhood succeeded with the help of others 
in getting a school house built in 1857 or 8. It was erect- 
ed on land given by Betsy Baynard. 

The first teacher in this building was David Moore, 
a son of Thomas Moore. Since he w^as the first teacher 
and his people were so influential in obtaining the school, 
it lias been called Moore's School. Robert Baggs, a 
northern man, was also among the first teachers. 

About twenty-seven years ago some of the leading 
people of the district, among who was David Greenlee, 
were in faVor of moving the schoolhouse to what seemed 
to them a more central location. David Greenlee had a 
road put through from the Greensboro-HoUandsville 
road to the Moore Mill Lane, as the road wdiich the 
school was then on, was called. The building was finally 
moved to a central location on this new road and placed 
on land given by AVilliam Hutson. Here it stood with- 
out any change until 1912, when it could no longer ac- 
commodate the large crowd of children attending, when 
a large room was built in front of tlie old one. 

Before Moore's school was built it is said an old log 



—191— 



sclioolliouse stood on the Zimmerman farm near Betsy 
Baynard's land. There was also once a log scho'olhouse, 
near what is now called "The Cool Spring," between 
the lands of Wilmer Draper and Thomas Bilbrough. 

Betsy Baynard was a large land owner and slave 
holder. Her old home was abont a half mile northwest 
from onr school along the east side of the Choptank 
River. 

Some stories : Miss Baynard was good to her slaves. 
'After the Civil War her slaves were free, but m'any of 
them came back, finding they could no't make a living. 
One jjoor ignorant woman when told she was free gath- 
ered up her husking pegs and other belongings, strung 
them about her body and started off in high spirits. 
After many days she came stumbling back, ragged and 
nearh' starved to death. 

Betsy had two sorrel horses wliich her servants had 
trained. When they wanted to ridie these horses, they 
would hit them on the knee and sa}^ "Get down" and 
these h'orses would get down on their knees and s'tay 
there until the rider was on their back. 

Betsy Baynard's slaves had their gala times. One 
man relates how they sometimes had a "husking bee" 
in the evening followed by a big dinner, music, dancing, 
games, and wine. 

One of Betsy Baynard's slaves, Marie Hawkins, was 
about fifty years old when the Civil War ended. Miss 
Baynard did not want Marie to leave her, so gave Marie 
a I'ot close by the Choptank River and built a log house 
thereon. 

The people of this community, (Moore's district), 
ifeeling the need of a suitable house of worship set to 
work to erect one in 1873, 

Betsy Baynard gave the land for the church site, 
which is just across the road from her home, and also 
lumber for the building. This was about five years be- 
fore her death. 

Rev. John Irvin, a Methodist for whom the chapel 
was named, was the first preacher. David Greenlee was 
the class leader. 

Prior to the building of this church, services were 
held in the old schoolhouse. 

John Irvin also preached at Cedar Grove Chapel 
and the Kent County, Delaware, Almshouse. His re- 
mains lie in the Cedar Grove graveyard. — Contributed. 

—192— 




-193- 



GREENSBORO (Choptank Bridge). 

An act for erecting a town at the bridge near the 
head of Great Choptank River in Dorchester and Queen 
Anne's counties was passed in 1732. The act made these 
provisions for the laying out of the town. 

1 Commissioners were to purchase twenty acres of land in 
each of the counties at Choptank Bridge, lying most convenient to 
the river, and have it surveyed and laid out in forty equal lots, al- 
lowing sufficient space for streets etc. with posts towards every 
street. For better distinction the lots were to be numbered from 
one to forty. 

2 The owner of the land on each side was to have first choice 
of one lot. after which the remaining lots were to be taken up by 
others. No person could purchase more than one lot during the 
tirst four months and these were to be purchased only by inhabi- 
tants of the respective counties. Any lots not thus taken up at 
the expiration of six months could be bought by any one desiring 
them, and gave the purchaser an absolute estate in fee simple, if 
they complied with other requisites of the act. 

o The surveyor was to return a plat of the town to the Clerk 
of the court of each county, to be kept among their records. 

4 To secure the ownership cxf a lot it was necessary within 
eighteen months from the date of purchase, to erect thereon a 
house covering 4 00 square feet of ground. In case this was not 
done any one else had the privilege of building there, by paying 
the original sum set and assessed upon such lots. 

5 Lots not taken up within seven years after publication of 
this act were to revert to the original owner. 

6 The name given to the village was Bridge-Town. Pos- 
sessors of lots were to pay one penny current money of .Maryland 
each year to his lordship for each lot. 

A sale of one of the lots above mentioned is recorded 
in the following. 

August 27, 1734. Nathaniel AVright of Queen-Anne's County 
conveys to Peter Rich, of same county, for oOO lbs. of tobacco, "A 
lot or parcel of ground lying or being in a town lately laid out at 
the head of Choptank River called Bridge-town, the said lot being 
numbered six, beginning at a chestnut stake marked as aforesaid 
and runs according to the plat of said town, together with all hous- 
es, gardens, orchards, wood-way, waters, water sources and all 
profits, commodities etc." 

The warehouse at Bridgetown was built under the 
follwing act: 

"iBE IT EXACTED by the General Assembly of Maryland, That 
ivVilliam Hughlett, of Caroline County, be and he is hereby author- 
ized to build at Bridgetown a warehouse, for containing and secur- 
ing tobacco offered for inspection, if in the judgment of the levy 
court of Caroline county, the erecting of such warehouse would 
promote the public interest and convenience, and he. the said ^Vil- 
liam Hughlett, or those claiming to hold under him, shall provide 
and keep constantly in repair, beams, screws, scales, weights, 
brands and marking irons, and all other things necessary for n- 

— ]9 



spectiug tobacco brought into the said warehouse for inspection; 
and the said warehouse, when erected and finished, shall be deem- 
ed a public warehouse, and the proprietor or proprietors thereof 
may demand, and shall be entitled to receive, one dollar for each 
hogshead of tobacco inspected at the said warehouse, before such 
hogshead shall be removed, as a full compensat on for the expense 
of erecting the said warehouse and keeping the same in repair, and 
for the providing of proper scales, weights, brands and marking 
irons, and all other things necessary for inspecting tobacco and 
for the payment of the salary or salaries to the inspector or in- 
spectors of the said warehouse, as the proprietor or proprietors 
of the said warehouse shall agree to pay; and if any tobacco shall 
remain in the said warehouse above one year after inspection, the 
proprietor or proprietors of the said warehouse may demand, and 
shall be entitled to receive for each hogshead the further sum of 
twelve and one-half cents for every month thereafter." 

Another interesting act passed in regard to tliis vil- 
lage is given here. 

•BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
That it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons residing 
within the limits of the said village, after the first day of March 
next, to seize and secure any swine or geese that he may find at 
large w'ithin the limits of the village aforesaid, belonging to any 
person residing therein, and the same retain in his, her or their 
possession, till the owner or owners thereof shall pay the sum of 
five shillings for every hog or half dozen of geese, and a propor- 
tionable sum for every goose, so taken up, one half for the use of 
the person or persons taking up and securing the same, the other 
half for the use of the poor in said county; and in case the owner 
or owners of swine and geese seized and secured as aforesaid shall 
not, within three days notice after such seizure pay the aforesaid 
sum of five shillings for every hog or half dozen geese, and in pro- 
portion for every goose seized as aforesaid, to the person or per- 
sons seizing the same, in such case the whole of such seizure shall 
be absolutely forfeited for the uses aforesaid, and it shall be law- 
ful for the person or persons, seizing to sell the game, by public 
Tendue, in the said village, within five days between nine and ten 
o'clock in the forenoon of the said day, and to apply the monies 
arising from such sale to the use aforesaid." 

In November 1791 the General Assembly of Mary- 
land anthorized the pnrchase of ''any quantity of land 
not exceeding one hnndred acres contignons to Chop- 
tank bridge." 

This was to be surveyed and erected into a village 
to be called Greensboro and takes in what was -originally 
known as Bridgetown. 

Bridgetown was the site of the comity court which 
was held here for four sessions- — Nov., Dec, 1778, June, 
1779, Oct., 1779, March, 1780. 

It has long been an open question as to wliere the 
Bridgetown Court met. How^evor we have definite 
knowledge that it met in an Almshouse which stood 
about a quarter of a mile down from the present Chop- 

—195— 



tank Bridge, at some distance back from the water. Since 
tlien the river has changed its course somewhat and the 
site is now closer to the water. A few years since, al- 
most a century and a half after the courts, while exca- 
vations were being made for some buildings the workmen 
dug up bones from what had once been the old pauper 
graveyard. (For the above information we are indebt- 
ed to Mr. James Nichols and older citizens of Greens- 
boro.) 

A RHYME OF BY(iOXK YEARS. 

Listen, good people, and you shall hear 
The story of many a bygone year. 
Reaching batk to the days of yore 
When Indians wandered on Eastern Shore. 
Even to sixteen-hundred eight (160S) 
When Smith explored the Eastern state. 

Once more, five years ere Baltimore came 
Claibourn exploring found again 
Metapeake, Nanticoke, and Choptank, 
Lurking in forests deep and dank. 

Sixteen-hundred sixty-nine (1669) 
This is the year in which I find 
Governor Calvert — 'Charles by name 
Granted the Indians certain claim 
To lands. These they could call their own 
A "Reservation". The Indians home. 
Six beaver skins they yearly sent 
To the Loi'd Proprietor for rent. 

For sixteen-hundred eighty-three (1683) 

An interesting chapter see. 

To the home of William Troth one day 

A drunken Indian chanced to stray, 

He, both with tomahawk and gun, 

Tried for Troth's life — Then away he run. 

The trial came. Court judgment sent 
The Indian far. 'Twas, "Banishment". 
On the Court records e'en to-day is 
The noted trial of Poh Poh Caquis. 

Years passed. In seventeen-hundred-four (1704) 

The rising power of the white man bore 

The Red man backward through forest glade, 

'Twas then the Nanticoke Treaty was made. 

So civilization rose like the tide 

And the Indians were scattered far and wide. 

As time rolled on the traffic grew, 
And so, in seventeen thirty-two (1732) 
The govei-nment granted the people right 
To plot a town on Greensboro's site. 
A bridge across the river was thrown, 
Accordingly it was called Bridgetown. 

— 19G-- 



Twenty acres in Dorchester lay 

Per acre twenty-four shillings they pay, 

Twenty more by Queen Anne were given 

Shillings per acre, twenty-seven, 

And the purchasers paid for years, — oh many 

The Lord Proprietor a tax of one penny. 

Such is the story I tell to you 

Of Greensboro, — Seventeen thirty-two. (1732) 

In fifty-six Arcadians came (17 56) 
The Huguenot French well known to fame, 
Who knows but some fair Evangeline 
At Bridgetown crossing was oftimes seen. 

Then just befoie the birth of our Nation 

Caroline County was given foundation. 

Made from Queen Anne and Dorchester — 

Talbot also formed part of her. 

Caroline Calvert the name was for. 

Wife of Lord Eden, the Governor 

Who served the King on Eastern Shore 

The year of our Lord, seventeen-seventy-four. (1774) 

Soon was the Revolution here 
With its midnight ride of Paul Revere. 
Soldiers were gathering by the score, 
And Caroline added one company more. 

What found we then in a soldiers pack? 

What carried he in his haversack? 

One half pound powder; a bag of ball; 

Two pounds of lead, Nor was this all, 

A cartridge box filled with cartouch; 

A powder horn. What more could you wish 

Except his flintlock with trigger eet, 

And barrel pointed by bayonet. 

Some of the bravest no doubt were found. 

Carrying guns from old Bridgetown 

Then, they made the English run. 

Just as yesterday they made the Hun. 

Seventeen hundred ninety-one (1791) 

War was over. Peace had come. 

The State Assembly authorized 

That Bridgetown be reorganized. 

The old town stood as heretofore 

But added one hundred acres more 

Purchased from lands on the Western bank 

Where the bridge led over the old Choptank. 

There on an Indian summer day 

Old Bridgetown was laid away. 

The new town born was called I trow 

By its present name of Greensboro. 

Both records and folk-lore prove I ween 

That the town was named for one Valentine Green. 



-197— 



You know the rest, — How Greensboro through 

The following century steadily grew, 

How in eighteen-eight tlSOS) a new bridge was thrown 

Over the Choptank. The old was down. 

How eighteen-sixteen (1816) Public School 

And free education became the rule. 

Then at a date that has not appeared 

A Presbyterian Church was reared. 

Later Episcopal and M. E. 

Were added to Greensboro's family tree. 

In eighteen-twenty-^five (1825) you get 

Your medicine from Dr. Rousset. 

In 18 8 a newspaper. Guess? 

Why of course the Greensboro Free Press. 

Railroad, factories, canneries came. 

Now Greensboro is known to fame. 

Here's a toast. May her fame spread far and wide 

Then, higher rise, like a Choptank tide. 

And though in distant lands we roam 

May we e'er be proud to call Greensboro — Home. 

Recited by BESSIE EDWARDS. 

Landmarks. 

The following are links in the chain connecting 
Greensboro's jjast and present: 

The Ailanthus Gateway. 

On the Main street of Greensboro adjacent to Four 
Corners stand two Ailanthns trees, separated by less 
than six feet, their sturdy trunks and towering tops tell- 
ing of the passage of time. 

The story goes that almost a century ago when the 
house was first built what is now the sidewalk formed a 
narrow front yard. The owner brought home his young 
bride and together they planted two slender trees, one 
on either side of the gateway. 

Time passed and the slender trees grew until their 
massive trunks and overhanging branches formed an 
archway beneath which swung the gate. 

As the years rolled on the hand of time rested heav- 
ily on the house, on the inmates, on all save the trees, 
which stand like faithful sentinels casting their shadows 
on the third generation who stand beneath at the Ailan- 
thus Gateway. 

The Old Tilden House. 

On the south-west corner of Main Street and Rail- 
road Avenue stands a residence gray with the passing 

—198— 




Old :\Iain Street, Greensboro. 
Ailanthus Gateway. 
Crawford House. 



Saddle Bags of Dr. Roussett. 
First School. 



—199- 



years. This is one of the oldest buildings in Greensboro. 
The time of its erection has not been definitely deter- 
mined bnt we place it about 1844. 

The court records give this land as part of a tract 
known as Ingram's Desire, and the sale of said lot, con- 
taining ''One hundred and thirteen perches and seven 
hundredths of a perch" to Chas. M. Tilden by Henry M. 
Godwin on Apr. 11, 1844 for $138. No mention is made 
of improvements, but shortly afterward the property 
was sold at a much higher amount, indicating a building. 

The Friend's Meeting House. 

On the south side of town along Maple Avenue may 
l)e seen a jjlot of ground marked bv two marble slabs. 
These are of a comparatively recent date — 1862 and 
1864 — but they serve as a landmark and carry the mind 
back to the days of long ago. 

Folk lore tells of the burying ground — The God's 
Acre of the Quakers — that lay there. Tells of many oth- 
er graves, alwavs unmarked, now levelled and become 
but a memory. The property at tliat time extended from 
the present property of J. C. Smith to Main street. The 
Friend 's meeting house stood next the street where part 
of it is incorporated in the present home of William Ken- 
nard (colored). 

The Hitghlett Ruin. 

On the Xortli side of Greensboro may be seen sec- 
tions of the lower part of a one time substantial building 
in early days the property of the Hughletts, once pro- 
prietors of all Denton Valley. 

Many conjectures have been made as to the time of 
its erection, etc. Appended are some facts that may aid 
in its "time" and "use": 

1. The William Hughlett family came from St. Stephens Par- 
ish. County of Northumberland, Virginia in 17 5 9. 

2. William Hughlett died in 1771. 

3. The purchase of the section on which the old ruin stands 
was in 1769 as recorded on stone post "W. H. 1769". 

4. Thomas Hughlett, a son prominent in both political and 
military circles of Caroline Co. was born 1740. 

5. On a door of the old ruin yet preserved are the initials 
and date "W. H. 17 69" formed by brass nails. 

These have been looked upon as the work of the sup- 
posed original owner (W. H., Sr.) but as he died in 1771 

—200— 



that theory seems incorrect, "VVm. Hughlett, son of 
Thomas, was then 20 years old and it seems more like 
the work of that youth to bring into prominence the old 
and respected "W. H." which marks a line oC stone 
posts that make a land line reaching over into Delaware. 

The most plausible lore is this: In the early days 
even before Caroline County was, law breakers must 
need be taken as far as Cambridge or Queenstown for 
safe keeping. At times this was difficult so W. Hughlett 
to meet his own personal needs for tobacco storage etc. 
as well as those of the community built the brick struc- 
ture before mentioned. 

Pointing to this as the correct solution we have the 
facts that the lower section of the building was divided 
by brick walls into four compartments or cells. In one 
of these was a chimney and fireplace for heating. No 
other use or reason has been assigned for such division. 

Tlie second floor had, as far as the memory of the 
oldest inhabitant goes, groups of large spikes driven in 
such a manner as was customary for the hanging and 
drying of tobacco. 

The third story seemed to be used for making bas- 
kets, packing cases, etc. 

According to this the erection dates at any period 
from 1769 to 1775, the time of Wm. Hughlett or touch- 
ing the time when his son Thomas was first sheriff of 
Caroline County. Later it passed from the Hughletts 
to other hands. 

About 1825 Jonathan Nichols met Jos. M. Bernard 
and a partnership was formed after which a tannery was 
opened in the building. After the removal of the tan- 
nery John Sangston used it as a drying house for a num- 
ber of years. 

Since then it has fallen into disuse and most of the 
brickwork has been removed for other uses. 

Reed's Big Stoee. 

This building altho' now removed from its original 
location and reincarnated as Wheeler's Feed Store, is 
worthy of mention. 

In its early days it stood on the corner now occupied 
by the Caroline County Bank and was looked upon by 
Caroline County with even more respect than we today 
look on Hutzler's of Baltimore. People came from far 

—201— 



and near to see the wonderful mercantile venture, and 
the aisles were thronged on a Saturday by sightseers as 
well as buyers. 

Being- built somewhat over 100 years ago it really 
was unusual in its day for its "bigness." 

George Reed, previously mentioned, was sole own- 
er and proprietor. 

The Almshouse, 

This was previously mentioned in the History of 
Caroline County Courts. 

It stood on the Eastern Bank of the Choptank about 
V4 mile down stream from the Bridge. It is believed to 
have been there from 1778 to 1780 and served as a meet- 
ing place for the County Court. Nothing remains of it 
and even as a memory it was almost gone when a few 
years since some men in making an excavation found a 
number of scattered human bones. Then J. M. Nichols 
recalled the lip history received from his father of the 
Almshouse, tlie Courts, etc. 

Old Maix Street. 

''Greensborough " in 1791 was somewhat differ(Mit 
in its ]ilan than today. Main street at that time lay near- 
er the liver. It joined R. R. Avenue a block below the 
present conjunction, then by a winding way reached the 
present ^Main street but a shore distance from River- 
side Hotel. 

The old street has practically fallen into disuse but 
one need only walk that way to see the years that mark 
Gi-eensboro's growth. 

The w^eatherbeaten Crawford and Rousset houses 
tell tlie story better than any Avords can. 

A Few Facts. 

The earliest remembered families of Greensboro 
were : 

a. The Hasletts, living over the river near where 
the present Christian home stands. 

b. Tlie Crawfords, whose first home seems to have 
been the brick building on ''Old Main Street." This 
building has been previously referred to as the first home 
of Dr. Rousset. Later the Crawfords built and occupied 
the home now that of the Lobsteins. The latter house 

—202— 



at that time fronted on ''Old Main" bnt has since been 
reversed as shown by the front hall stairs ascending 
from the rear end of the hall. 

c. The Tildens, wliose Main St. home has previonsly 
been described. 

d. The Ilnghletts, previonsly discnssed. 

In the early days of Nichols and Bernard's tannery 
a present day citizen of Greensboro worked for 121/2 
cents a day (and l)oard) driving the mnle that fnrnished 
power for the tan bark mill. 

In the days when a private school was held here 
(Miss Rich) pimishment seemed even more severe than 
in pnblic schools. In one case the girls were gronped 
close together, then a barrel hoop was ]mt over their 
heads and slid down about their bodies. There they 
stood and any restlessnes was corrected with a switch. 

Another — three girls did not know their definitions 
and were whipped with a "cowhide." 

(By a Pupil) 

HISTOEY OF GREENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

Nineteen-sixteen was the Centennial year for the 
Public Free Schools of Maryland. Such schools were, a 
little more than a century ago, unknown in our state, but 
in 1816 a law was passed establishing free education. 

Altho' the date at which Greensboro opened her first 
free school is not definite, folk lore points to a period al- 
most immediately after the passage of the law. Some 
time later a buihling for school purposes was erected on 
the north side of town. At the. present time it is known 
as the Wyatt home. 

At the time of erection it w^as a two story, two room- 
ed structure. The upper room was at first used only as 
an Odd Fellows Hall but later a private school was con- 
ducted there. The lower room was the District School, 
where, when the master found his pupils wanting on any 
subject he stimulated their mental activity by the use of 
the rod. He thoroughly believed in the old proverb, 
"Spare the rod and spoil the child." 

In 1845 this building was repaired and continued in 
use as the district school until 1873. After that it was in 
use time and again for a primary school. 

At this time (1873) the number of pupils demanded 
more room. W. C. Satterfield made a deal with the 

—203— 



Board of Education contracting" to erect a new school 
building near the Choptank bridge, and accept the old 
building in part payment. The ground on which the old 
(Wyatt) building stood had been originally donated for 
school purposes hence a clear deed of ownership could 
not (and cannot) be given for the property. As an eva- 
sion of law the foundation was (temporarily) removed 
and replaced by "props," and the house classified as 
movable or personal property. 

The new building (Satterfield's) was located near 
where the Leverage home now stands. There school 
was conducted successfully for three years. Then in 
July, 1876 the new school was burned through some un- 
known cause. 

A somewhat weird tale is told concerning the loss of 
this building. The ground on which it stood formed part 
of an old cemetery. There existed a superstition that 
any building placed on this consecrated ground would be 
destroyed In- fire. The idea was leased on the occurrence 
of a number of fires previous to this one, some very de- 
structive. 

A.fter the unexpected destruction of the riverside 
building the construction of the new (Maple Avenue) 
building was hastened and completed before the opening 
of school, September, 1876. The rooms (2) of the pres- 
ent building which front on Maple Avenue were ojjened. 
J. E. Carroll, who later became Superintendent of Kent 
Co. Schools, Delaware, was princi])al. 

Since then by a process of addition and division of 
rooms this Centennial Year building has been made meet 
the educational needs of the town. It is a low rambling 
structure of seven rooms. 

Although from time to time a number of private 
schools have been organized, and at one time the dignity 
of a boarding school was reached bv one of these yet none 
of them had an^^ permanency. Our state educational 
system alone remains and only the W^^att house and tlie 
primary rooms of our school remains as landmarks of tlie 
educational liistor^^ of Greensboro, 

Late in 1919 the people of Greensboro raised by 
subscription about $1800 and purchased five acres of 
land from the Bernard estate for a new school site. 

During the 1920 session of the Maryland legislature, 
provision was made for a new building by an Act autlio- 
rizing the sale of $60,000 worth of County bonds for said 



purpose. A. W. Briiinbaii^h was the local member of the 
Logislatiu'e and the followiiip,- ]jersoiis compose the build- 
ing committee: C. B. Jarman, A. W. Brumbaugh, Burt 
Hobbs, W. P. Manlove and Jesse W. Porter. 

HISTORIC ENTERTAINMENT. 

Given liy the Greensboro School, March 5, 1919. 

PROCRAM. 

1. Song — "March On!" 

2. Recitation — Bessie Edwards 

"A Rliyme of Bygone Years." 

3. Song — "Grow Greensboro!" 

' Now as we sing tliis oldtime song 
Wliere the Clioptank is washing to and fro, 
Upon its banks onr Greensboro stands, 
Which was founded many, many years ago." 

4. Original Play — First Primary 

' The Red Men of Caroline County." 

5. Indian Drama — 

"Poh Poh Ca(iuis." 

Scene 1 Fifth Grade 

Attack on William Troth. 
Scene II High School 

Trial of Poh Poh Caquis. 

6. Song — "Maryland, My .Maryland." 

7. Selected Story Play — Grade Two 

"Little Black Sambo." 

8. Dramatization — Grades Three & Four 

"Greensboro's Slaves." 

9. Historic Dialog — Grades Six & Seven 

"Greensboro's Ancient Days." 
10. Song — "Home Again." 

THE PLAYLET— GREENSBORO'S SLAVES. 

During February our history work was about the 
slaves that lived around Greensboro before the Civil 
War. 

We found there were quite a number. Some of them 
w^ere owned by Miss Betsy Baynard, who lived a few 
miles from Greensboro. She was always kind to her 
slaves and they loved her and worked hard. 

We found, too, that there was a slave dealer named 
M. Fountain who lived near here. He sometimes sold 
slaves into Georgia. 

From these facts w^e wrote a play called "Greens- 
boro's Slaves." It was in two acts. 

The characters in the first act were: Nancy, an old black mam- 
my with her little black baby which she is trying to get to sleep. 
Nine pickaninnies who were always getting into mischief. 
The characters in the second act were: 

—205— 



Betsy Baynard, a slave owner. 
lM. Fountain, a slave trader. 
Karl White, a Virginia planter. 
Liz, (colored), a little house girl. 
Mick, (colored), a boy who helps around the house. 
Old Mose, (colored), a slave that had been in the Bay- 
nard family for years. 

ACT I. 

Nancy enters the kitchen limping, carrying her sleepy baby on 
h.er arm. She sits down in a chair and says, "Dear me. How 
tired I is." She rocks her baby. Nine pickaninnies are playing 
around the kitchen. 

Nancy: Sh! Sh! Sh! Everybody keep quiet while I gets ma 
baby to sleep. 

Violin plays "Humoreske". As Nancy sits rocking her baby 
the nine pickaninnies begin stepping softly to the music for eight 
measures-^eyes wide, hands lifted — making no noise to disturb 
Nancy, their mammy. 

Nancy stands and sings the following while she sways with 
the music pickaninnies still step softly: Go to Sleep Ma Dusky 
Baby — Tune, "Humoreske." 

Sleep and dream of angels maybe, 
While yo' mammy rests a little while, 
Shut yo' eyes while I'se asingin, 
And the honey bees am winging 
Makin' honey fo' ma little baby chile. 
Nancy: (To the baby) "Bless its little heart! Mos' asleep. 
Mammy'll put this chile to bed." She reaches behind her for the 
chair but a mischevious picaninny (Pete) had slipped it away while 
she was singing and Nancy comes near sitting on the floor. She 
catches Pete by the arm. shakes him well and says: "Why Pete! 
You pull a chair from under yo' mammy? Spoein I'd a sot down in 
dat flo'! I'd a most bust mysef open! Just you clean out ever las 
one of ye fo' I lick ye all.'" 

Pickaninnies all scamper from the kitchen followed by Nancy. 
Nancy: (as she walks out) "Pete most woke up ma baby. 
iMammy'll put you to bed right away. Most time I was gettin denna 
any how." 

ACT II. 

Betsy Baynard .enters her parlor fanning herself with her hat. 
She carries her sewing bag on her left arm. "How very warm it 
ie this morning! I think I'll sit here by the window where it is 
cool and sew a while." 

Liz: (a little house girl enters with her broom) "Missy, want 
me to sweep up fo' you this mo'nin?" 

Betsy Baynard: "I wish you would Liz. This room hasn't 
been swept to-day. Be sure to sweep well around the fire place." 

Liz: "All right, Missy. I'll do my bes." (L. begins sweeping 
vigorous.ly. She hums "Old Black Joe" as she sweeps. She raises 
such a dust that Betsy B. has a terrible spell of coughing.) 

Liz: "Fo de land sake. Missy, what am de matta'?" 

Betsy Baynard: "Why Liz. you are making so much dust!" 

Liz: (beginning sweeping again) "Dis aint no dust Missy, dis 
aint no dust." (A knock is heard at the door.) 

Liz: (listening hand at ear) "Missy. I believe I hear a knock." 
(Another knock) "Sure as you's alibin dat am a knock. Shall I 
go to de do?" 

Betsy B.: "Why yes, Liz, don't keep them waiting." 

—206— 



Liz: (goes to door. Bows three times) "Morniii Massy, morn- 
in. You want my Missy?"' 

Mr. White: (a stranger) "I want your :\lissy or your Master 
or somebody." 

Liz: "You sot down here on the piazzy while I go tell Miss 
Betsy." 

White site down. Liz runs in to Miss Betsy. Liz: 'Fo de 
land sake, Missy, you jus ought to see that good looking guy out 
thar." 

Betsy B.: "What does he want?"' 

Liz: "He wants you." 

Betsy B.: "Did you tell him to come in,"' 

Liz: "Nio mam shall I?" 

Betsy B.: "Yes indeed. Don't keep him standing.'" 

Liz: "'Missy, he aint a etandin. He's a settin." (Goes to 
door) "Come right in .Massy, come right into the parlor. Dat's 
whar Miss Betsy's at." Liz listens at door. 

Betsy B.: "Good morning." 

Mr. White: "Good morning. 'Sly name is White.'' 

Liz: (Aside)' "He sho am white." (Runs oft' stage). 

Miss Baynard and Mr. White sit down. 

Mr. White: "As I was traveling thru this part of the country 
I came thru Bridgetown. Quite an interesting place is Bridge- 
town." 

Betsy B.: "What interesting places did you see?" 

Mr. W.: "I saw the old ware house that was built by Wm. 
Hughlett in " 

Betsy B.: "In 1789." 

White: "That was the year. I saw it on a stone at the boun- 
dary of his farm. You have quite a number of granaries along the 
river." 

Betsy: "Yes, we have quite a number up and down the Chop- 
tank." 

White: "Why, do big boats come up to Bridgetown?" 

Betsy: "They come as far as the stakes and the slaves bring 
the grain the rest of the way in scows." 

White: "Scows — what are they?"' 

Betsy: "They are large, flat boats which have to be poled up 
and down the liver. My slave, Mose, was helping one day last 
week and his pole broke. He fell overboard of course and such a 
splashing time as they had!" 

White: "Well, I should think so. Miss Baynard, I think I had 
the best supper I ever had in my life down at the tavern last 
night." 

Betsy: "Well, .vou know Maryland is noted for its cooking." 

White: "That certainly was a fine supper! (a knock is heard 
at the door. Mick, a little colored boy runs to the door) "Missy, 
I hear a knock." He opens the door and there stands Marcellus 
Fountain. "Howdy, ^Jassa, howdy." He puts his hand to his 
mouth and says, "Fo de land sake it's Massa Fountain. Wonder 
what he's oin round here! Spec hes nine to buy some of us niggas." 

Fountain: "Is Miss Betsy home?" 

Mick: "Yes Massa, yes sar. Walks right into de parlor, .'^hes 
igiot company but that don't hurt." 

Fountain: 'Miss Betsy. I've come for that slave I bought last 
week." 

Betsy: "Mr. Fountain, I'm very sorry to sell Nancy. She's — " 

Namy: "Fountain! Missy, has you sold old Nancy?" 

Betsy: 'Nancy, I'm so sorry but I needed the money. You 
know that it means a thousand dollars to me." 

Nancy: "O Missy, please don't sell me! I've worked hard fo' 
you fo' years." 



-20 



Fountain: (pushing her on) '"Gou on. I'm tired of this fool- 
ishness. You're my nigger now." 

Nancy: "Missy, Massa Fountain 'II sell me way down to Geor- 
gia — away from my baby." 

Fountain: (flourishing whip) "Get out of here I say!" 

White: "What are you going to do with that slave'?" 

Fountain: "Take her home. What do you suppose I'm going 
to do with her'?" 

White: "I'd like to have a woman like that for our nurse 
down in Virginia." 

Nancy: "Buy me, Massa, buy me. You's a kind man I knows." 

Fountain: "Go on out of here, I tell you!" 

White: "I" give you a thousand dollars for her." 

Fountain: "No sir. You can't have her, I just gave a thousand 
dollars for her myself."' 

White: "I'll give you eleven hundred." 

Fountain: (pushing Nancy ahead of him) "No, sir." 

White: "Twelve hundred." 

Fountain: "Did you say twelve hundred?" 

White: "Yes." 

Fountain: "Well then, take her." 

Nancy: "Thank you, Massa, thank you! You'll be good to 
Nancy, won't you?" 

White: "Yes indeed. We'll be good to you down in Virginia." 
Both leave staige. 

Fountain: (counts his money, slaps his knee) "Gee but it does 
pay to sell slaves. Made two hundred dollars in about two min- 
utes." Walks off stage. 

Enter Mose, a poor old darky, leaning on a cane. He walks 
slowly across the stage. "Poor old Nancy, poor old Nancy. Missy 
done sold old Nancy to Massa Fountain. Speck Massa Fountain 
sell her way down in Georgia. Nancy was a good cook. My she 
was a good cook. I wonder who's gwine to cook dem possums 
now. Poor old Nancy! Missy done sold old Nancy! Fust thing I 
knows Missy'll 'be asellin me! Mose don't want to be sold. Mose 
is an old nigga." 

As Mose limps back across the stage, the cihldren all sing the 
first verse and the chorus of "Old Black Joe." They sing softly 
to the accompaniment of the violin. 



— '208- 




BAPTISMAL SERVICE AT GREENSBORO STATION^l 920. 




—209- 



DR. HENRY ROUSSET. 

One of Greensboro's Earliest Physicians. 

Looking northward along Old Main Street one may 
see a house noticeable for the oddity of its structure. Its 
long low lines, its hipped roof, its dormer windows, its 
shadowy gray look all mark it as belonging to the days 
of long ago. 

The property which is slowly falling into ruin and 
disuse was once a show place of the town, — an American 
type of the French Chateau, having its grounds sur- 
rounded by a close clipped boxwood hedge so that even 
the tallest person could no more than catch a glimpse of 
what lay behind it. 

The enclosed grounds formed an old fashioned gar- 
den filled with pansies, mignonette, sweet Williams, and 
all the riotous blooms dear to our great grandparents. 
Through this garden, at eventide passed a dark man of 
medium height carrying himself in an erect and military 
manner, while at his side walked a petite figure with 
laughing eye and golden brown hair, — Dr. Henry Bous- 
set, perhaps, Greensboro's first resident physician, and 
his wife, Augusta Mohlen Rousset. 

Both were born "over-seas" — he in Breslau, she in 
Hanover; but both were loyal Americans, true to the 
land of their adoption. 

Dr. Henry Rousset was born in Breslau, Prussia, No- 
vember 1, 1785 of Franco-Prussian parentage. Little is 
known of his early life except that he was a lineal de- 
scendant from a noble family, and at an early age was 
sent to Paris where he was educated in the University 
and became thoroughly French in his ideas. 

With true patriotism ho served as a Sergeant-Gen- 
eral under Napoleon Bonaparte and was with him at 
his defeat at Waterloo. Li this battle he received a 
wound almost directly between the eyes. This wound 
must have troubled him somewhat for he covered it con- 
stantly with a surgical patch. 

Shortly after the downfall of Napoleon in 1815, 
Rousset came to America and stopping in Philadelphia 
met, wooed, and won Augusta Mohlen, then but 14 
years of age. After his marriage they returned to France 
wdiere he practiced medicine for six years, but the youth- 
ful bride longing for America they arrived in Philadel- 

—210— 



pliia again in the spring- of 1823. Coming via Baltimore 
he crossed the bay and came up the Choptank with Cap- 
tain Cornelius Coniegys, and was met at the Greens- 
boro landing by Thomas Hughes, who with mule and cart 
transferred him to the old brick Crawford house. 

Soon after he purchased the frame building which 
became his permanent liome. The interior they fitted up 
in a manner pleasing to themselves. Many things were 
brought from overseas for the decoration ; among which 
was a large French fire-place — now transferred to an- 
other Greensboro home. 

An anecdote is told of their housekeeping troubles. 
Both were "To the Manor born." Servants were scarce, 
hence, the preparation of food became a problem. A 
chicken was to be killed — but how? Dr. Rousset over- 
came the difficulty bv performing a surgical operation 
that ended the life of the fowl. 

Hospitality was the home motto — Tea and cakes al- 
ways awaited the caller. 

Dr. Eousset was known far and near as an eminent 
physician. According to the custom of the day, w*hen 
visiting his patients he rode on horseback with his sad- 
dle-bag filled with medicine, strapped behind his saddle. 

His work is done ! He went into the beyond in 1871 
and his wife followed him in 1885. 

On old Main street stands the age stricken house 
marking where he lived. In the old Methodist cemetery 
a gray slab marks his final resting place, while folklore 
has kept alive the patience, skill and wonderful healing 
power of Dr. Eousset. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

As early as 1785 the Society of Methodists was 
formed in Greensboro, or Choptank Bridge, as it was 
then called. The meetings of this Society were held in 
the homes of the different mem_hers, but the members in- 
creased so rapidly that it became necessary to have a 
building in which to worship. 

The church was probalily erected in 1789 and a deed 
for the site is now recorded in the Clerk's Office in Den- 
ton. 

It was in this old building, located on the bank of 
the Choptank river, the site on which Greensboro then 

—211— 




METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



—212— 



stood, that many had the opijortiiiiity of listening to 
Freeborn Garrison and Francis Asbury, who were 
among the ministers that visited and served these people 
at that time. 

This chnrch served tlie ]ieople nntil 1843 when it 
was decided that a new bnilding was needed, and as the 
population had by this time extended to the west, it was 
thought best to have a building near the center of the 
town, and the site selected was the one now occupied by 
the old church on North Main Street. 

In 1903, sixty years later, when the town having ex- 
tended still farther to the west the members of this same 
Society of Methodists, or as they were then called, the 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, liuilt the 
new church on Railroad Avenue which is in use by them 
today. 

THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY. 

The Church of the Holy Trinity at Greensboro is 
apparently the result of the work of two women: Mrs. 
Angeline Goldsliorouiiii, widow of Dr. George Washing- 
ton Goldsborough, and grand-daughter of Thomas Hard- 
castle, and Miss Ella Betts, who taught a private girls' 
scliool. These two became interested in some children 
wlio belonged to no church and organized a little Sun- 
day School of five ]iupils. This led to thoughts of a par- 
ish at Greensboro. The matter was brought before a 
Convention at Easton by Mr. Ernst and in 1870 a new 
parish was foi-med l)y taking a part of St. John's parish 
at Hillsborough. The present church building was ded- 
icated in 1875, April 13th. It is said that Miss Mary 
Reed who lies buried in tlie old Methodist churchyard 
provided in her will about $1,100 towards the erection of 
this building. 

Mrs. Goldsborough was chairman of the committee 
which selected the name for the church. The Rev. George 
Beaven was in charge until Rev. Frank Adkins was in- 
stalled. The congregation at present is much reduced 
and is served regularly by the Rector from Denton. 

Mrs. Goldsborough is still living and at the age of 
ninety-two still takes a keen interest in the affairs of 
the church. 

—213— 



THE HELVETIA PLANT. 

June, 1920 opened at Greensboro one of the largest 
plants on the ])eninsnla. It is one of sixteen owned by 
the "Helvetia Milk Condensing* Company," whose head- 
qnarters are at Highland, Illinois. 

The plant ])roper is constrncted of hollow tile and is 
fire proof. It is 279 ft. long and 176 ft. deep, part being 
one and part being two stories high, while the stack 
which is constructed of reinforced concrete, measures 
10 ft. at the base, 6 ft. at the top, and 125 ft. high and is 
tlie largest in this section. 




HELVETIA MILK CONDENSING PLANT. 

Four milk storage tanks having a capacity of 70,000 
lbs. each are installed, while the water tank is 18 ft. in 
diameter, 50 ft. high and has a capacity of 100,000 gal- 
lons. The entire capacitv of the plant is between 150,000 
lbs. and 200,000 lbs. of milk daily. 

The boiler room has three boilers of 150 horsepower 
each and room for three more of equal size. The build- 
ing will have its own electric plant and practically all of 
the macliinery will be run by motors. 



-21- 



Employment is given to about thirty men, whose 
number will be increased as the milk supply increases, 
until it reaches the plant's present capacity — 60 men. 

When running at full capacity the farmers will re- 
ceive $100,000 monthly for milk. 

As a future prospect a tin shop, for making cans 
may be opened, doubling the working capacity of a plant 
even now, one of the largest on the Eastern Shore, 

WHITELEY'S AND LOWE'S. 

The history of these communities need necessarily 
be written in connection because of their joint activities 
through all the early period. 

Doubtless because of the section's proximity to 
Greensboro, the earliest settled and developed part of 
our county, and the natural fertility of the soil here- 
about, this connnunity seemed to attract and hold men 
who became prominent not alone in county matters, but 
in state as well. 

Of these early families, Whiteley was probably the 
best known. It seems that William Whiteley came to 
this county from Delaware and located just west of'the 
state line, though likely owning real estate in Delaware. 
There is a record in our Clerk's Office that William 
Whiteley purchased over 1000 acres of land in a body 
shortly after the Eevolutionary War. Elsewhere in this 
volume is given an account of this man. 

Thomas White, another ])rominent man of this coun- 
ty, and one of our first court justices lived in this section. 
This family came from the section of Delaware near 
where White's Chapel now stands. When Bishop As- 
bury, who had been preaching Methodist doctrine on 
the peninsula was forced to suspend work for about two 
years during the Revolutionary War, he found refuge at 
the home of Mr. White on the Delaware side. Perhaps 
it should be explained that the Tory element, which was 
in considerable strength at that time in this section, natu- 
rally held to the Episcopal church, the established 
Church of England, and opposed any counter doctrine as 
advocated by the rising Methodist denomination. It has 
been stated elsewhere that the Carter family succeeded 
to the ownership and possession of the property of the 
Whites in this section. 

—215— 



Being along the main highway from Queenstown to 
Dover, these fertile lands peopled by prominent and ac- 
tive families and tilled by numerous slaves, it can read- 
ily be imagined that this entire section was very busy in 
these early times. 

Lee's Chapel that stood on the road from Carter's 
Corner to Whitelysburg seems to have been the first 
place of worsliip in this neighborhood. It seems likely 
too, that it was once used for a school, though we have 
no authority for this assertion. This building was erect- 
ed in tlie latter ])art of the eighteenth century. A family 
of Lees who lived across the road from where the Chapel 
was erected, used their influence in having this church 
built, and a member of this family. Rev. Lee, was among 
the preacliers of the church. This Chapel is a small 
wooden building; the frame work is all hewn and is put 
together mostly by means of wooden pegs. Very few 
nails are used, but those which are used were made by 
the village blacksmith. 

At that time almost everyone went to church regu- 
larly. Shoes were very scarce at tluit time so the boys 
and girls went to church bare-footed just as long as the 
weather permitted. The grown men and women carried 
their shoes in their hands until they were almost in sight 
of the church and then put them on. The}" took them off 
again as soon as they were coming home from church. 
This church was used until the Civil War when Shep- 
pard's Chapel was erected to take its place. 

When the state law as to scliools was changed in 
1868 and trustees were appointed by the School Commis- 
sioners, provision was made for Whitelysburg. This 
name of the school was continued until 1883 when White- 
leysburg was discontinued as a public school. About this 
time Benjamin Whiteley recognizing the great need foi 
a school nearer than Lowe's built a school house and 
planned a school for the cliildren of this section. Late 
in 188."), the Scliool Board again decided to pay the teach- 
er and thus Whiteley's was again oper, remaining so 
until about 1906 when the very small attendance neces- 
sitated the school's being again closed. 

Besides giving money towards the school, Mr. 
Wliiteley always sent a Christmas l)ox to the school. This 
box contained a gift for each pupil and for the teacher. 
He also wrote a long letter each year to be read to the 
children. 

—216— 



Tims did Benjamin Wliiteloy, the worthy son of his 
highly representative father, keep alive his interest in 
childliood though advanced in years. Mr. Whiteley died 
in Catonsville a few years ago at the age of nearly one 
hundred years. 

On the road to Greensboro, William Hughlett and 
Dr. Rousset owned much land, acquired either by grant 
from the state government or by purchase. As both of 
these men will be treated under the Greensboro section, 
no further notice is necessary here. 

About the year 1855 the old Rawling's school was 
built. This school was erected on Mrs. Rawling's farm 
at the end of her lane, on what is known as the Whitelys- 
burg road. 

After a time Esma Lowe bought the farm on which 
the school stood; then its name was changed from Raw- 
ling's to Lowe's, the name which it bears today, though 
the location has been changed slightly and a new build- 
ing erected. 

Several years ago a Seventh Day Adventist Church 
was built at Whitelysburg, also a small school provided 
for tlie children of this denomination in the neighbor- 
hood. 

Li 1919 a joint public school with Kent County, Del- 
aware, was started in this small building, 

Contrihutrd by Ethel Eveland, Teacher, 
and the Pupils of Lowe's School. 



-217— 




BURRSVILLE SCHOOL. 
Formerly an M. P. Church. Erected About 1S33. 

BURRSVILLE. (Union Corner, Punch Hall). 

The first name above seems to have been given the 
adjoining villages of Union Corner and Punch Hall 
abont the time of the establishment of the postoffice 
there, years ago. 

Two very ditTerent stories are in circulation in re- 
gard to the origin of the name Punch Hall. One author- 
ity tells us that the name originated from the fact that 
runaway slaves hid under a building called a hall stand- 
ing on what is known as the F. C. Porter lot. To cap- 
ture these fugitives the citizens used long poles to punch 
them out. Thus came the name Punch Hall. Other au- 
thorities claim that the name Punch Hall originated 
from a citizen by the name of Hall living in that end of 
the town who kept the inn and sold strong drink. 

The name of Burrsville was probably sidected for 
tlie postofhce without reference to any suggestions in 
the neighborhood. Be this as it may, we know that 
Union Corner was a little hamlet, long years ago, while 
the central group of buildings was designated as Punch 
Hall. 



-218- 



The first public school for this section seems to 
have been Chinquapin, provision for which was made by 
the Legislature about 1840. This buildinp; stood on the 
Saulsbury land about one mile west from the village on. 
the Denton road and continued as the school for the 
neighborhood until sometime in the seventies when it 
was discontinued and a school building erected on the 
spot now occupied by the Union M. P. Church. This 
was Burrsville's first public school and the building 
thereof by private means was prompted doubtless for 
fear the colored people after the passage of the Fif- 
teenth Amendment would be allowed the privilege of at- 
tending school with the whites at Chinquapin. 

In eighteen hundred and eighty-four this building 
iWas moved about a mile west of the village to a corner 
of the county farm where it has since been used as a col- 
ored school. The old M. P. Church, erected in 1833 or 
1834, was purchased by the county and is still used as 
the public school building for Burrsville. Thus this vil- 
lage has the honor of having its school housed in one of 
the oldest frame buildings in the county, perhaps, in tlie 
state. 

At the time the church was purchased for the school, 
the school lot was sold or traded to the church trustees 
for a church site as indicated above, 

WESLEY M. E. CHURCH. 

The following is taken from a note book kept in 
eighteen hundred thirty-three by Thomas Baynard : 

"A record of the proceedingo of the trustees legally appointed 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and tliirty 
three for the Methodist Episcopal Church near Burrsville which 
church is not yet built but is in conte.n'plation and to supply the 
place of the old church near the said village which is now in a 
condition not fit for worship." 

The said church which was completed in eighteen 
thirty-five, was named Wesleyan Chapel and dedicated 
/December twenty-fifth of the same year. 

Tlie site for this church was purchased from Reu- 
'ben E. Eichardson of Burrsville and was located be- 
tween Burrsville and the present M. E. Church. Tbis 
building served as a place of worship until eighteen sev- 
enty-two, when it was sold to John Cahall, a son of Ar- 
chibald Cahall, who was one of the building committee 
of eighteen thirty-three, and is now used as a barn on 
the Cahall farm. 

—219— 



The present M. E. Cliurcli is known as Wesley's 
Chapel and was erected in eighteen seventy-two on a 
corner of the Cahall farm. It is said that Thomas Mel- 
vin, one of the founders of the Methodist Protestant 
•Church, then living near Burrsville did about 1834 deed 
a piece of land to be used as a site for an M. P. Church 
to be erected. The church that wa,s built about this time 
is in the main the same- structure that has been used as 
the public school since 1884. 

From Burrsville neighborhood have gone out some 
men of state and national fame. Among them are the 
Saulsbury brothers who attended Chinquapin school and 
in young manhood moved to Delaware. One of them, 
Oove by name, became a prominent physician of Dover, 
and later governor of the state. Another brother, Wil- 
lard, became Chief Judge of the state and a third one, 
Eli, sei'vecl as United States Senator from Delaware for 
nearly a generation. Tlie Melvin family from wdiich 
sprang several imjjortant men who have filled honored 
places in the Maryland Annual Conference of the M. P. 
Church was prominent here years ago. Among them 
are Walter Graham, D. D., and T. H. Lewis, D. D., Pres- 
ident of Western Maryland College, also three Melvin 
brothers who served with honor in the ministerial ranks. 
'Still later we have Dr. M. Bates Stephens, State Super- 
intendent of Public Schools. 

Contributed by Mary E. Raughley. 
CENTRAL. 

A sketch — An Old Time Maryland School — in this 
volume describes the school at Townsends' Cross-Eoads 
which was the forerunner of the famous Chinquapin 
school erected on the road to Burrsville in about 1840. 

After this old building (Chinquapin) had stood 
about fifty years there were a good many people moving 
in around Towson's Cross Roads. These people thought 
it was too far to send their children to this scliool, hence 
they wanted a new building. 

John R. Wyatt gave one acre of wood lot on the 
North West side of his farm for tlieir school building. 
The timber was cut and the building erected in 1879. 
After it was completed they decided to call it the Wyatts' 
school in honor of Mr. Wyatt. 

—220— 



A few years later the Methodist Church was built 
by the side of the school. The peo])le in the community 
decided to name it Central it being- about central of the 
community and midway between Burrsville and Denton. 
The school has since been known as Central. 




DROWNED VALLEY, NEAR CENTRAL. 
Caused by the Raising of a iNIill Dam. 

CAMP GROVE (Chilton's). 

The first school for this section was organized many 
years ago, because legislature records indicate that pro- 
vision was made in 1830 to move from the present Shep- 
pard's church site a school building, to the south end of 
Carter's or White's Lane, hence the name Carter's, 
which was a])])lied to the school for many years after- 
wards. 

One reason, of course, for tliis early scliool was the 
fact that several prominent men lived in tliis connnunity 
in Revolutionary War times. Among them may be men- 
tioned Col. Mathew Driver, who built and lived in what 
is the Brick House on the Horsey farm. A complete de- 
scription of tins man and his home is given elsewhere in 



—221— 



this book. Thomas White, another large land owner, 
lived on wliat is now the Carter land. Between the 
oanip-oronnd and Bnrrsville was the Fountain estate. Of 
this family Andrew Fountain was a captain of militia in 
the E evolution, whUe Marcy Fountain became a i^romi- 
nent citizen of the upper section of the country. 

At this time or a little later, William Chilton pos- 
sessed the land around the camp ground and former mill 
site and erected at the head of Chapel Branch a mill 
which continued for many years. Upon the schools' be- 
ing located on his land, or a lot therefrom, it was given 
the name of Chilton's, which is used by many at present, 
though the official name is Camp Grove. 

Two school buildings have been burned on the site 
■of the present one which was erected in 1918 through 
the cooperative efforts of a few enterprising residents 
of the community. 

Camp Grove School takes its name from being on a 
part of the old Chilton's camp ground. For many years 
this grove was annually tented, and religious services 
held under the auspices of the Methodist Protestant de- 
nomination. Along with improvement in travel and oth- 
er changes in events, the camp, in the main, has ceased 
to function as in olden times, and is rapidly disappear- 
ing. 



.900. 



rf 

m 







-Aife-^-j 



—223— 



DENTON. 

Denton, for more than a century the county seat of 
Caroline County, on the east border of the Choptank, was 
originally named, "Edenton," in honor of Sir Eobert 
Eden, ])roprietary Governor of Maryland in 1769-1774. 
The "e" was dropped, thus changing Edenton to "Den- 
ton" a little while subsequent to the Eevolution and 
Governor Eden's departure for England. 

The county seat, which at the time was at Melvill's 
Warehouse, a mile and half farther up the river, was re- 
moved to Denton in the early nineties ; a square of land 
containing four acres having been purchased for the erec- 
tion of a court house and jail in October 1791. The price 
paid was ''thirty sliillings, current money, per acre." 
The old map on record in the office of the Clerk of the 
Circuit Court, an interesting showing of the work of that 
day, bears the signature of Robert Orrell, surveyor, and 
those of three of the five village commissioners — Levin 
Charles, Alex. Maxwell and Solomon Brown. The village 
as shown by the map numbered forty-nine buildings in 
all. It was then a village of some commercial import- 
ance as is evidenced by "shop," "store," "wharf" and 
"granary" marked on the map. 

In November 1792 it was enacted by the General As- 
sembly of Maryland, "That Joseph Richardson, Christo- 
pher Driver, William Robinson, Henry Downes and Rob- 
ert Hardcastle have full power and authority to open and 
lay off a road, and make a good and sufficient causeway, 
through the marsh on the east side of Choptank river, op- 
posite, or as nearly opposite the court-house of said 
county as they may think best or proper, and erect a 
wharf at the end of said causeway, if they shall think it 
necessary 



>) 



In 1796 William Richardson, William Potter,- George 
Martin, Henry Downes, Christopher Driver, Joshua 
Driver and John Bennett were appointed commissioners 
to attend to surveying Denton. 

The act providing for the surveying follows : 

"WHEREAS it is represented to this General Assembly, that 
the owners of the land contiguous to Denton, In Caroline County, 
are desirous that a village should be surveyed and laid out, with 
<jonvenient streets, lanes and alleys; therefore, BE IT ENACTED, 
That the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are hereby 
authorized and empowered, with the consent of the proprietor or 
proprietors aforesaid, to survey and lay out any quantity of land, 
not exceeding fifty acres, including the puTslic square called Denton, 

— 224— 



ill Caroline County, and tlie lands thereto contiguous and the same, 
when surveyed, to be erected into a village, and to be called and 
known by the name of Denton; and such village, when surveyed 
and laid out, to divide into lots, which lots shall be numbered and 
bounded by stones, at every corner of the same; and the said 
commissioners, or a majority of them, are hereby authorized and 
empowered to survey and lay out a sufficient number of streets, 
not exceeding fifty feet wide, as also a isufficient number of alleys, 
not exceeding twenty feet wide, through the said village, for the 
public convenience; * * *." 

At the same time provision for relaying tlie public 
square was made in the following act: 

"W'HE-REAS it is represented to this General Asseimbly, that 
the public square of Denton might be much more advantageously 
located, by exchanging a part of the said public square for a small 
quantity of land lying on the south iside thereof, by means whereof 
a communication with the main street, leading through Denton, 
will be formed with the said public square: therefore, BE IT EN- 
ACTED. That the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are 
hereby authorized and empowered to survey and lay out anew 
the public square, which was originally laid out and condemned in 
pursuance of the act of assembly to which this is an additional 
supplement; and in case the eaid commissioners, or a majority of 
the^m, shall deem it most advantageous to the public, tiiey. or a 
majority of them, are hereby authorized and e.npowered to ex- 
change a part of the said public square lying on the northernmost 
side thereof, not exceeding one acre, for the like quantity of land 
on the southernmost side of the said square and up'on the pro- 
prietor or proprietors of any such land so exchanged executing a 
deed or deeds of bargain and sale, agreeably to the laws of this 
state, such land shall be forever thereafter desmed and taken to 
be part of the said public square, and as such to be used and en- 
joyed." 

The Old Market Place. 

Nearly a century ago, there was erected on the 
Southeast corner of the public square facing Market 
Street, where the Masonic Hall now stands, an open 
building about thirty feet long, which was used as a mar- 
ket |)lace. Across the i)illars which supported the roof 
extended boards for shelves. Some green produce, eggs, 
and meat, including beef by the quarter and whole pigs 
as well as .^mailer quantities, were brought here and 
either sold from these shelves or the wagons which were 
backed ud tliere for that purpose. Here also slaves may 
have been sold. 

The following comes under date of 1827: 

"Whereas the commissioners of the village of Denton have 
erected on the public ground in said village a market house, and 
Whereas the memtoers of Washington Lodge No. 59, of Free and 
Accepted Masons, have erected over said market house a room or 
rooms to be occupied as a Lodge room or rooms. Therefore 

"BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland. 
That James Sangston, John Brown. Nehemiah Fountain. Bennett 

—225— 



Wherrett and James Hand, the commissioners of the village of 
Denton, and their successors, or a majority of them, shal'l for 
ever hereafter hold, possess and enjoy, all the public ground on 
which said marlvet house and Lodge house and Market-street, and 
also all the public ground between said market house and Lodge 
house and Second-street, and twenty feet of public ground im- 
mediately contiguous to the west side and north end of said mar- 
ket house; Provided that nothing in this act shall be construed 
so as to authorize the said commissioners or their successors or 
the officers of Washington Lodge to erect thereon any other puTj- 
lic buildings for the use, convenience and benefit of the said vil- 
lage. 

"AMD BE IT ENACTED, That the members of Washington 
Lodge No. 59, and their successors, shall for ever hereafter hold, 
possess and enjoy, the said room or rooms erected by them over 
the said maiket house, in as full and ample a manner as if they 
had an actual deed for the premises on which it is erected, with- 
out any let, hindrance or molestation, of any person whatsoever; 
and in case at any time the said Lodge shall go down, the com- 
missioners of the villa.ge of Denton shall have it in their power to 
rent the room or rooms now occupied as a lodge room or rooms, 
and apply the prceeds to the payment and costs of the subscribers 
for tie erection cf the rcon s now occupied as a Lodge after 
keeping up all necessary repairs, any thing in any law to the con- 
t r a r y n otwi t h st a n ding. " 

Baxks. 

Ill Decenibor 1813 a number of citizens of Caroline 
County prayed that a bank be established in Denton. 
The acts regarding- the same are given below: 

"BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland. 
That a bank to be called and known by the name of The Bank of 
Caroline shall be established in the village of Denton, in Caro- 
line County." 

"AND BE IT ENACTED, That the capital stock of this bank 
shall consist of two hundred thousand dollars, money of the United 
States, divided into eight thousand shares of twenty-flve dollars 
each." 




FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN COUNTY. 



—226— 




COL. PHILIP W. DOWXES. 



Denton is the possessor of three prosperous banks. 
Of these the most important as well as the oldest in 
Caroline County is the Denton National. This bank was 
organized in 1881 with Col. P. W. Downes as first pres- 
ident and R. T. Carter as first cashier and transacted 
business on the site of the present bakery. Later on the 
bank moved into its new brick home on the corner of 
Main and Fourth Streets. In 1902, the present hand- 
some pressed brick building was erected at a cost of 
$18,000. The present capital stock of the bank is 
$100,000, with a surplus of $200,000, which gives the 
bank a high rating, standing as 16th in the state. There 
are now six persons regularly employed in this bank, 
Avith Harvey L. Cooper as president and W. I. Norris, 
successor to T. C. West, who served thirty-two years, as 
cashier. 

The Peo])les' Bank which became a State Bank in 
1919 was organized in 1898, with a capital stock of 
$50,000 as a National Bank, with Joseph H. Bernard as 
president and George Wallace as cashier, and transact- 
ed l)usiness for a number of vears in tlie ^Masonic Build- 



—227— 



iiig. Later, the present bank was bnilt at a cost of 
$20,000. Mr. Bernard procured some Indiana limestone, 
saved from the Baltimore Fire, as the building material. 
Henry T. Nnttle of Andersontown, is now president and 
T. F. Johnson is cashier. 

The youngest bank of Denton is the Farmers' and 
Merchants State Bank, which was organized in 1919 with 
John T. Carter as first president and Sherman Higiiutt 
as cashier. It is located on Main and Third Streets in 
the Carter Building. Its Capital Stock is $30,000. The 
Board of Directors are pleased with the business they 
are transacting and it promises to become a strong 
banking institution. 

First Factory. 

Perhaps tlie first factory built in Denton, was the 
old plow factory, located on the northeast corner of Main 
and Fourth Streets and erected about 1835. Henry Wil- 
son, father of the late Charles Wilson, an eccentric old 
gentleman, but highly esteemed by Caroline Countians, 
was proprietor. The factory produced complete plows 
for many years, one of which is still owned by Mr. C. H. 
Stewart. After the death of the owner, the manufac- 
ture of plows was discontinued and after much wear 
the walls finally decayed. Many of the residents of Den- 
ton recall the happy hours of their childhood when 'dom- 
ing home from school they looked in at the open door" 
and wondered at the sights and sounds of the first fac- 
tory they had ever seen. 

Leading Merchants ix 1820. 

In 1820, according to the diary kept by the late Jef- 
ferson Pratt, Sangston and Hardcastle were the leading 
merchants of Denton. They bought tan-bark, wood, 
grain, dried fruit, feathers, wool, poultry and other coun- 
try produce, which they shipped to the city by sail ves- 
sels. In this year corn sold at twenty-five cents a bushel 
and wheat from sixty to eighty cents. 

Old Coixs Used Loxg Ago. 

During the early days of Caroline County the coins 
that were in general use were very different from those 
that we use to-day. At that time they had the twelve ~and 
one-half cent piece which was called a "levy," the six 

—228— 



and one-foiirth cent piece which was called a "fip," the 
three cent piece, and the two cent piece. In some sec- 
tions of the county the levy was called a "bit" and even 
today in some localities we hear of the quarter (h)llar 
being called "two bits." 

Early Teavel Across the Choptank at Denton. 

It has not always been as easy and convenient for 
the people of this connnunity to travel across the Chop- 
tank River as it is now. In the early days their only way 
of getting across here was by means of small boats or 
ferry which perhaps landed near what is now the jail, 
tlien called Pig Point. 

About 1792, probably in order to shorten the dis- 
tance of the ferry across here, there was a causeway laid 
through the marsh on the east side of the river. This 
causeway was very low at first and was often covered 
with water. Later it was raised and travelling across it 
was much easier. Many of our older residents remem- 
ber a few occasions when they had to be rowed to the 
top of the hill in boats. 




DENTON IRON BRIDGE. Erected 1S75. 



—229— 



A few years later in 1811, a number of citizens on 
seeing liow mncli more convenient it would be to have a 
bridge here, decided to form a company to erect one, so 
they were incorporated by the General Assembly under 
the' name of "The President and Directors of the Denton 
Bridge Company." 

This first bridge was a narrow one way drawbridge 
with a draw twenty-six feet long and a toll bridge to all 
persons not residents of Caroline County. The Levy 
Court paid a small sum ($280) each year to allow these 
to go over free. Those who came here from other coun- 
ties had to pay twenty-five cents for a four-wheeled ve- 
hicle; twelve and one half cents for a two wheeled ve- 
hicle; six and a fourth cents for a horse and rider; three 
cents for each mule or horse, and two cents for each foot 
passenger. In 1818 this toll was doubled. 

This bridge remained a toll bridge until shortly be- 
fore the Civil War, when it was sold to the county and 
in about 1875 replaced by the iron bridge which remain- 
ed standing until 1913 when the concrete bridge was con- 
structed. 

Old Stage Routes. 

The old stage coaches which ran between Denton and 
various points, long before the railroads were built in 
Caroline County, are well remembered by a few of our 
citizens. Tliey were large substantial vehicles usually 
drawn liy two liorses and carried l)oth mail and ))assen- 
gers. 

Travelling in these old coaches was very slow and 
tiresome, although the rate of speed depended, to a cer- 
tain extent, on the condition of the roads and the weath- 
er. 

Sometime before 1860 there was a stage line started 
between Easton and Felton, Del. via Denton. After 
I860 the stage met the Chester River boat at Queens- 
town. It usually left here between six and seven o'clock 
in the morning and was due in Queenstown anywhere 
between ten and twelve o'clock. If the tide happened to 
be low it was necessary for the passengers to be carried 
out in a row boat or a scow before they would get aboard 
the steamer which was then anchored out some distance 
from the shore. 

—230— 



¥3.: 



% ■^■':'-^\ 




OLD BRICK HOTEL. 

Ox'R. First Steamboats. 

The first steainboat came up the Choptaiik River to 
Denton from Baltimore before 1850. It was named the 
^'Cyrns." People s'athered here from miles around, or 
on their own shores, to see it as it ])assed. There was 
talk among the very small boys and also- the negroes that 
the waves would ])rol)alily wash them away from the 
shore. So when the darkies saw it coming they all ran 
and hid and none could be seen anywhere. 

''The Cyrus" perhaps only made one tri]), 1nit a 
little later ''The Dupont" with Captain Case as captain 
made weekly trips between Denton and Baltimore. In- 
stead of having wheels on the side, as "The Cyrus" ha*!, 
and as most of the boats of to-day have, it was propelled 
by one wheel from the back. If there were any passen- 
gers on this boat coming down to visit a home on the 
river shore, where the wharf was not dee]) enough for 
the steamer to dock, the captain would sometimes have 
the small boats lowered and send them ashore. 

An Old Grave. 

One of the oldest graves that can be identified in 
this vicinity is that of Major John Young in the old 
cemetery at the rear of the Methodist Church. In some 
places tiie brick wall which was built around it, has fall- 
en. The marble slab, though much worn and molded, 
still shows the following unusual inscription: 



—231— 



"Dedicated 

to the memory 

Major James Young, 

who was born the 14th day of June 1775, 

and died January 1S22, 
aged forty eight years and seven months. 

The blow, how sudden, how severe the dart, 
This marble shows life's fleeting scene. 
Proclaims it but a passing dream 
While time rolls on, while moments fly, 
This stone cries out, 'Prepare to die,' 
Friends, be not careless concerning your duty to God, for time is 
on the wing. Heaven is worth striving for. 

Philosophy, age, and experience tell us there is no real pleas- 
ure in this world, our hopes and pursuits of such end with disap- 
pointments, with this a strong influence that reason is loudly pro- 
claiming to the universe, there is a world beyond this where a 
Heaven of enjoyment is aw*aitiag the Righteous." 

This Major Yoniig was a Caroline Countiaii by birtli 
and at one time a banker of Denton. He was also a 
member of the State Legislature and a Major in the War 
of 1812. (Jne of his sons, Captain Edward Young, was 
for many years a commander of a boat on Maryland wat- 
ers and was widely known on the Eastern Shore. 

A Union Ship Visits Denton. 

In the early years of the Civil War a Union cutter 
came to Denton and anchored at the bridge. This ship 
brought about fifty men commanded by Captain Num- 
bers, whose purpose was to arrest and punish any South- 
ern sympathizers that had spoken too freely of their own 
opinions. Some of these were: Messrs. Thomas H. 
Slaughter, Ezekiel Saulsbury, Eben Wright, Josiah 
Beck, Silas Christopher, W. P. Stafford, and Frank Port- 
er. 

Number's men had been directed to the Slaughter 
residence. Upon nearing it, they saw a horseman riding 
rapidly toward them. As soon as the rider discovered 
the presence of the officers he rode about fifty yards to 
the edge of a swamp and escaped to Hickory Ridge where 
Wesley Smith fed him till it was safe for him to return 
and prepare to join the Confederate Army. Later on 
the soldiers tried to capture David Wright, father of the 
later Mr. Wriglit of Andersontown, also a Southern sym- 
pathizer. They compelled Mr. Hobbs, then a neighbor 
of Mr. Wright to lead them to the house of the suspect 
but upon their arrival they found that Mr. Wright had 
escaped. 

—232— 



The soldiers left Denton about forty-eight hours 
after their arrival, without a single prisoner, but they 
had thoroughly scared all Southern sympathizers. 

An Unfortunate Celebration. 

A company of Union soldiers was stationed at Den- 
ton, as guards in 1863, and in celebrating the Fourth of 
July brought quite a disaster upon the town they were 
supposed to benefit. 

They had been celebrating with the use of skyrock- 
ets and other explosives used on the Fourth of July, and 
it was some of these that started the fire. At the back 
of Mr. Blackiston's store, where Mr. William Bullock 
has a garage, was a rum shop. While the lower part of 
the building was used as a rum shop, the second floor 
was used as a store room for flax and cotton. Some of 
the rockets landed on tlie roof which started the flax 
burning. Tliis being a late hour, and the town being un- 
prepared to fight fire, it burned about all the business 
part of the town, which consisted of several stores, a 
hotel, and this rum shop. 




BRICK HOTEL REMODELED. 



—233— 



Old Grist Mill. 

In the summer of 1868 a grist null was built in Den- 
ton on the north end of the present Fourth Street on 
what was known as Saulsbury creek. The joint owners 
of the mill were, Mr. John Emerson, father of the late 
Mr. Waldo Emerson, and Mr. Frederick Eoschy, a Ger- 
man shoe make]' of Denton. Mr. Emerson, however, 
managed the business and had Ids oftice on the site of 
Mr. Frederick Towers' present home. This mill was run 
by water power Init the first heavy storm that came wash- 
ed the dam out. At once a new- dam was built and a race 
led back to the turbine wheel which operated the mill. 

Further trouble with the power led tlie owners to 
discontinue the milling business. Mr. Philijj Downes 
later bought the building and moved it to Towers' Wharf 
where it now stands. 

Street Lighting. 

After the streets of Denton liad for many years hcci 
lighted by oil lamps faithfully attended by Charles 
Smith, now janitor of the Court House, in 1901 the peo- 
ple viQYe very much pleased- with the gas plant which was 
built for the purpose of lighting streets and homes. But 
a few years later, as the electric light plant had been 
started near Denton, the gas plant was discontinued and 
electricity substituted. 

Law Building. 

In 1902, ''The Law Budding and Realty Co." was 
incorporated by AV. H. Deweese, 11. L. Cooper, A, G. 
Towers and Fred R. Owens and the same year the Law 
Building was built on Main Street, opposite the Court 
House, on the site of the old Cho])taid\; Hotel. The low^er 
floor is now used for the Post Office, hardware store, and 
other offices; the second floor, for law offices only; and 
the third floor for lodge rooms and a Law Library. 

The Paving of Main Street. 

When Denton's Main Street was paved in 1915 and 
1916, as the result of a law passed by the General As- 
sembly the year before, a decided improvement was made 
to the town. The work done by Mr. C. S. Kauffman, rep- 
resentative of the Holt Construction Co., is made of con- 
crete, about seven inches in thickness, with a six inch 

—23 



curl) on either side. The extent of tliis road is al)ont 
seven-eighths of a mile, extending from the railroad in 
East Denton to the foot of Denton Hill, including the 
causeway and making a total length of a mile and a quar- 
ter. The width of the street varies from sixty feet in 
front of the Law Building, to thirty feet through the 
main part of the town to Eighth Street, east of wliich 
point it is only fourteen feet in width. 

The cost of construction was about $22,000, the state 
])aying for one half of the cost, if twenty-four feet in 
width or less, and if over twenty-four feet in width pay- 
ing f(n' twelve feet only, the town meeting the cost of the 
remainder. The individual property owners paid for the 
construction of the curb, the cost of which was one dollar 
per running foot. 




first public school building. 

Schools. 

Records of the General Assembly of 1804 show that 
the parcel of land in Denton now used for a jail was once 
set apart for the purpose of building thereon a school 
house, but owing to difficulty in securing funds nothing 



-235— 




MANUAL TRAINING EXHIBIT. 

was done for several years. From year to year however, 
effort was made to g"et an Academy in Denton, until at 
last in 1826 the General x\ssenibly made it possibh^ to 
proceed by payinii,- two hundred and fifty dollars for that 
])nrpose and an equal amount yearly for its support. 
This Academy was then organized, but the building was 
not erected foi- several years. In the meantime the 
Academy was con(kicted in the Hall, over the old Market 
House, on the site of the ]M-esent Masonic Hall. 

Finally in IS.'Jo a school building was erected on the 
corner of Gay aud Second Streets iu the block in which 
the Court House now stands. Tt was a plain but sub- 
stantial two story building, witli a school room and a 
double entry hall-way below, and a school-room and a 
cloak room abcn^e. For a generation the building stood 
here, and in the year 1879 it w^as removed to Low and 
Second Streets on the site of the present Primary Scliool, 
and w^as there used as an Academy until 1883, wlien it 
was moved a little west ou the same street, and sup- 
planted by the present Priuniry building. In fact the 
old building is today used as a dwelling house, and the 
original slate roof, wliich was all liand made, is still in 
good repair, promising to last for generations to come. 



—236— 



The year 1887 stands out in school history, for the 
County School Connnissioners, anthorized the first High 
School in the Comity. Prof. Chas. W. Bryn was the first 
principal of this school, whicli was condnctod in tlie Ma- 
sonic Hall for two years. 

Feeling" the need of a new school building;, in 1901 
the present TTigh School was erected on Franklin Street. 
It is Mn attractive and comfortable building and for some 
years was large enongli for every need. In the last few 
years, however, the attendance \\]^on the town schools 
has grown so ra])idly tliat the l)nildiiig is entirely inade- 
quate. 

Churches. 
J\Irf])n(]isf Episcopal. 

The history of the Alethodist Episcopal church in 
Denton began apparently with Moore's Chapel in 1816, 
a>^ given in tliis volume under the heading — EarW 
Churches. 

The present brick church was erected in 1867, Rev. 
John Hough being pastor at that time. Several years 
ago this church was thoroughly repaired, remodelled and 
a Sunday School room added. 

Prcshyfcrian. 

One of the first churches built in Denton was the 
Presbvterian church which was situated on what is now 
Gay St. Although no one seems to know just when it 
was built, services were discontinued here many years 
before the Civil War. After this time it was sold to the 
colored people and is now supposed to form a part of the 
M. E. Church of this place. 

Methodist Protestant. 

Many years ago an effort was made to establish a 
societv of the M. P. Church in Denton, but it was de- 
ferred until the spring of 1897. On Mondav night, April 
26th, of that year, Pev. TT. W. D. Johnson, Pev. W. J. D. 
Lucas, Pev. C. E. Dryden, and several members held a 
meeting in the school house and decided to rent a hall 
and have regular service. Accordingly Downes Hall was 
engaged, chairs and church literature purchased and on 
Sunday, ^Nfay 2nd, tlie first services were held, Pev. Mr. 
Johnson preaching. Ou Sunday, May 9th, Pev. C. E. 

—237— 



Dryden org'aiiized a Christian Endeavor Society. On 
Sunday, May 2ord, a Sunday-School was instituted, ]\Ir. 
T. Pliny Fisher beino- chosen Superintendent. On Nov. 
25th, 1897, the corner stone of the new church was laid, 
Eevs. J. M. Holmes an<l B. F. Jester beino; the orators. 




p. E. CHURCH. 

Christ Protestant Episcopal. 

The little Protestant Episcopal Church in this town 
was built by Mr. Samuel H. Fluharty, a contractor, in 
the fall of 1873 and early sprini*- of 1874: and dedicated 
by Bislio}) Henry C. Lay on the 30th of April of the lat- 
ter year, at which service the Rev. Dr. Theodore Barber, 
of Cambridge, Revs. James Mitchell, of Centreville; 
Geori>'e F. Beaven, of Hillsboro; Revs. Hoskins, of East 
New Market ; Watson, of Kent Island and Dr. Stearns, 
the rector, were present. Tjittle chano;e has been made 
in its appearance either in interior or exterior since its 
erection. The picture of it taken many years ai^o whilst 
the fence surrounded the Court House square is a g-ood 
one as it now stands minus the fence, which disappeared 
years a.i>'o. Tlie re-org-anization of the parish was effect- 



-238— 




-•239— 



ed at a meeting held at the office of the late Judge Rus- 
sum in Denton, on the 11th of February, 1870, at which 
time the following vestrymen were elected : Dr. John A. 
McLean, Dr. Charles E.' Tarr, Messrs. William G. Hor- 
sey, Edward C. Carter, Philip W. Downes, George M. 
Russum and Robert A. Nichols. The late James B. 
Steele was secretary of the meeting. Efforts were then 
made to have Rev. George F. Beaven, then rector of St. 
Paul's Church, Hillsboro, give a service each Sunday 
and some services were held in the Court House and at 
private residences by Mr. Beaven. 

When the Rev. Dr. Edward J. Stearns became rector 
very early in the year 1871, a room on Second Street 
owned by the late John H. Emerson, was fitted up and 
used as a chapel. Mr. Stearns worked indefatigably to 
secure funds to build a church and with such success that 
in Sept., 1873 the site was secured from Col. J. W. Bry- 
ant, and a building committee composed of the rector, 
Messrs. William G. Horsey, Charles Stevens, Philip W. 
Downes and James B. Steele was appointed. The name 
given it at dedication was Christ Church. 

Brethren. 

About fifteen years ago, member of the Brethren 
society who had settled around Denton in consider- 
able numbers built a very substantial concrete block 
church on South Seventh Street. 

Holiness Society. 

About the same time that the Brethren Church was 
organized here members of the Holiness Society erect- 
ed a commodious churcli building on East Main St. 

Boman Catholic. 

The liistory of this church ma}^ be found under the 
caption — Early Churches. 



—240— 



ECHOES OF THE PAST. 



(Liues written by Miss Rachel B. Satterthwaite and read before 
Fidelity Lodge, I. O. G. T., of Denton, on Friday night, February 
20th, 1885.) 



Would you like to hear a story 

Of the times of long ago, 
Long before this place was Denton 

But was Edentown, you know? 

Long before the bank was thought of, 
With its walls of brick and sand, 

Currency was then tobacco 

All throughout "My Maryland." 

Offices were not then fought for 

Postal clerkships yet unknown. 

Neither had railroads been talked of 
And much less the telephone. 

Long before the tall church steeple 
.Showed to travellers on the road, 

That there was a place of meeting 
For the worshippers of God. 

Long before that cruel fire 

Rampant ran along Main street, 

Causing ruin and destruction, 
Making ravages complete. 

'Twas before the big camp-meeting 
Sang hosannas neath the pines 

That stood then where now the house stands 
Known to all as George Deakyne's. 

It was there at that camp-meeting. 

Truth it is, so I've been told. 
First met youth and modest maiden 

Now together growing old. 

To the camp in quaint old fashion 
(Then the cuBtom of the land) 

Seated on an ox-cart rode she, 

While HE walked with shoes in hand 

But he now can claim his thousands 
With her yet his reigning queen 

"Heart and Home" is still their motto 
As it always thus has been. 

While they dive to tell their story 

There are those of whom I speak, 

Who have answered to the summons 

Which calls forth both strong and weak. 

—241— 



It was then that sheriff Hughlett, 

So the legend comes to us, 
Introduced the common sand-bur 

As an ornamental grass. 

And the grass it grew and flourished 

Decorating hill and plain 
Grieving many an honest farmer 

As he garnered in his grain. 

Well we know our crooked river 

Curved around the self same bank, 

And the shade and herring sported 
In the waters of Choptank. 

That the cold and icy winter 

Brought some business on the "flats" 
To the men who trapped the otter 

And the boys who caught musk rats. 

In the spring no steamboat's whistle 

Echoed through the neighboring wood 

But the croak of frog and turtle 
To the settler boded good. 

Then, perhaps, if you had met him. 

And inquired for his home. 
Quick response, "Pig Point. God bless you. 

And from there I'll never roam." 

But alas! for human nature 

Gratitude won't always stay, 

And the answer differed later 

When the "bilious" held full sway. 

Summer had its birds and flowers, 
And the roses came in June, 

Though no "Guide to Floral Culture" 

Helped them with their rich perfume. 

Autumn came with fruits and hunting. 
Apples, peaches, grapes and pears, 

Chinquapins and ripe persimmons, 
Squirrels, partridges and hares. 

Making this a scene of action 

As the seasons went and came, 

Bringing with them joy and sorrow, 
As to us? Yes, just the same. 

For we know the happy mother 

Clasped her infant to her breast, 

Watched him grow to useful manhood. 
Ere she laid him down to rest. 

Or, perchance, she was not happy. 

Children sometimes went astray. 

Wandered from the path of virtue. 
Even as they do today. 



—242- 



But we know the Christian mother 
Had an answer to her prayer 

When she saw the scales true balanced 
In the Home that has no care. 

Yes we know that children prattled. 
In those days of long ago; 

Know full well that young men courted, 
And sometimes a girl said "Xo." 

As to who received the mitten, 
Or who was the lucky one. 

History remaineth silent, 

And my story can't go on. 



GAREY'S. 

Tlie first school Ijuildiiii;' was situated close to what 
is now Garey's camiiiig factory, near the present State 
road. At that time it was called Piney school, the name 
taken from the jnne woods, ]jresumably. The old scliool 
house is still standing- and is used as part of a dwelling 
house in the neii'hborhood. In 1878 a new school house 
was built more nearly the center of the district. It was 
named Greenlee 's school at first for Arthur John Green- 
lee who donated the land, later it was changed to Garey's 
School as Matthew Garey was one of the oldest settlers 
in the district and owned much land therein. 

This district may claim the credit of having the first 
court in Caroline county — Melville's Warehouse. By a 
ferry across the river at this point it seems that this 
neighborhood was in the direct line of travel from 
(^)ueenstown near the Chesapeake, at that time an im- 
portant trading place and countv seat of Queen Anne 
County, and Whitelysburg and Dover. Could we but 
glance back through these 140 years or more, we could 
doubtless see this community a busy one — especially 
with the growing of tobacco and its preparation for ship- 
ment to England from the warehouse at ^Melville's land- 
ing nearby. 

As early as 1780 some notice in the land records in 
the Clerk's Office is given a chapel which then stood by 
Ingram's Creek — the early name for Chapel Branch. 
Perhaps this building was used later jointly as a church 
and school for the community. No doubt some of the 
well known itinerant ministers held services in this chap- 
el at various times. 

—243— 



The present cliurch buildin.o: was erected in 1879 by 
the efforts of the local people headed by Thos. F. and 
Matthew Garey, one of whom g-ave the land, and the oth- 
er aided in the building. 

The ori<^inal ])ower plant of the Peninsular Lighting 
C\)nipany was located in this section — the former Garey 
]\Iill site. The mill at this place was in operation before 
1800, being then operated bv Col. Matthew Driver, a 
])rominent man of the time. Somewhat later Col. Driver 
maintained a saw mill near where the state road crosses 
Chapel Branch. 

OAKS. 



Oaks school (which derived its name from the large 
oak trees, many many years old, standing near the school 
building) is located about one-fourth mile from Hobbs, 
and is the second known building on this spot. The oak 
trees referred to above are several feet in diameter and 
must be several hundred years old. Who knows but 
that Indians w^ere holding pow-wows around these trees 
when Columbus discovered America ? 

In this general section, near the old Anthony's Mill 
site, official records show that a school was tamght by 
Andrew Banning ])revious to 179o, thereby indicating 
an early development of this territory. 

Hobbs, a thrifty village of Caroline County, is situ- 
ated on the M. D. & V. Railway about three miles east 
of Denton. The village of Hobbs has about one hun- 
dred inhabitants, one general store, a post-office, from 
which there is one rural route for the delivery of 
Inail, also a general factory which is known as the Hobbs 
Manufacturing Company, where men, women and child- 
ren are given employment in mking baskets, crates, and 
boxes for fruits and vegetables. 

Hobbs was named in honor of the late Saulsbury 
Hobbs, a prominent and highly esteemed gentleman, 
owning broad acres in tliis section. 

Tliere is a church of the ^Methodist Protestant de- 
nomination, known as Ames Chapel, built in the year 
1877, dedicated in 1878, and named in honor of the Rev. 
William C. Ames, the then ])resent pastor. It has quite 
a large membership. Ames Cha]>el is one of four church- 

—244— 



OS of Caroline Circuit, the other three beiii^ Thawley's, 
Piney and Burrsville. The parsonage is also located 
here. 

WILLOUGHBY'S. 



The neift'hborhood of Willoughby's and Ringgold's 
Green (the latter a cross-roads) near the Delaware line, 
have been known by some of its inhabitants since Revo- 
Intionary times. In this section lived Seth Evitts, who 
was a militia officer in our first war with England. His 
house, a brick structure, is still standing on the Ander- 
sontown road. 

Very early too Thomas Willoughby came into this 
section and gave the name to the community which it has 
retained till this time. 

Ringgold's Green probably takes its name from the 
constant ''greenness" of the swampy region around. 

A story is related that near this cross-roads a fatal 
tragedy once took place. 

Since 1882, the school for this section has been in 
the present building, though at least two buildings were 
erected earlier in tliis neighborhood for school purposes. 

ANDERSONTOWN. 

Andersontown was so named, because a certain 
James Anderson many years ago owned considerable 
land and transacted much business in this vicinity. As 
early as 1840 this place which lay at the juncture of two 
main roads, the one leading from Greensboro to Hunting 
Creek (now Lincliester), the other being the direct road 
from Potter's Landing to Marshy Hope Bridge — liad a 
store, a blacksmith shop, and one or two dwellings. Lat- 
er on two stores were kept busy. Mr. Tilghman Nuttle 
succeeded by his sons were prominent mercliants of this 
place for more than a generation. 

Before 1867, the school for this section seemed to be 
Meluney's, which was located about a mile away on the 
road to Potter's Tianding. This Imilding ])robably not 
being large enough for the community, Tilghman Nuttle, 
Tilghman Andrew, and William Stevens were July 3, 
]867 named a coinmittee to sell the old building and 

—245— 



ground and superintend the erection of a new building 
on the lot pnrcliased nearer Andersontown. A second 
school house erected on this site was in 1919 burned and 
the old Holiness Church nearby purchased, and trans- 
formed into the present school building. 

Much of the land in this community was formerly 
owned by General William Potter. 

LIDEN'S. 

Though having been moved some distance several 
times, Liden's school as iudicated elsewhere in this book, 
dates among the earliest of the count^^ — probably as far 
back as 1820 when the building of logs stood near Camp 
Ground Branch. 

Since the establishment of the public school in 1865, 
Liden's has been continually on the list and for a great- 
er ])ar't of this time a rather large school. 

The name of Liden's is in honor of Shadrach Liden 
who as early as 1840 deeded a piece of land for a site of 
a church and school. Thus for years the old building 
was al'^o used as a place of worship. In 1890 Zebedial 
Fountain couveycd a piece of land for a new site and the ■ 
present building was erected. 

Thawley's Church, now in Hickman, was originally 
built in 1884 on a plot of land deeded to the trustees by 
Zebedial Fountain, being located near Liden's school, 
about two miles southwest from its present site. 

Nobletown, the community in which it w^as first 
erected, being greatly in need of a church, several men 
of this community, among them Philip and Clement 
Noble, James F. Fountain, Willis Liden, Tilghman Me- 
luney, George Thawley, Zebedial Fountain and others 
along with Henry Thawley of Burrsville and assisted by 
Rev. A. D. Davis of Denton, erected the building and 
named it Davis' Chapel in honor of the Reverend Davis, 
indicated above. The intention of the builders was to 
maintain an independent chapel for a while, at least, but 
in some way the Wilmington Conference, of the M. E. 
Church took possession of the building and sent a minis- 
ter. Subsequently its name was changed to Thawley's, 
in honor of Henry Tliawley, and about 1898 the building 

—246— 



was moved to PTiekiiiaii where it stands at present. The 
corner stone which was not moved with the church was 
recovered in 1939 through the efforts of the pastor, Rev. 
G. T. Gehman, and restored to its proper place. 

HICKMAN. 

The village of Hickman, situated directly on the 
Maryland-Delaware line, has been a hamlet for many 
years, and was originally called Hickmantown and later 
abbreviated when a post-office was established there. 

For years simply as a cross roads, the coming of the 
railroad gave it new life and energy until now it has 
reached considerable proportions, having a church, 
school, flour and saw mill, blacksmith shop, barber shop 
and an automobile garage. 

Its name is in honor of a Mr. Hickman, who years 
ago owned considerable property in this neighborhood. 

Until eight years ago, when a public school was 
started on the Maryland side, it was necessary for the 
pupils to go two miles to Liden's. A .I'oint school by the 
two states is in contemplation. 

WILLISTON (Potter's Landing). 

Potter's Landing, now called Williston, is one of the 
most historic settlements of Caroline County. The early 
history of this place dates from about 1750 and is de- 
scribed elsewhere in this volume in connection with the 
Potter family — the first known settlers. 

During the "Revolutionary War this place served as 
a depot for collecting supplies for the soldiers and at the 
same time, likelv served as a drilling place for the 
militia. Since the earliest date Potter's Landing has 
been known as a shipping centre and continued as such 
until about twenty vears ago when the Queen Anne Rail- 
road brought death to the steamboat traffic from this 
point. For some years prior thereto, two steamlioats 
daily left wharves at this y)lace for Baltimore, carrying 
passengers and frei2:ht. 

The name of Coquericus Creek (Cokiases Creek) 
was originally given as the name of the local branch 
which supplies the Williston mill to-day. The first mill 

—247— 




WILLISTON MILL POND OR LAKE. 



was built miicli nearer the head of the pond than the 
present site and was apparently in operation before 1778 
when official notice of its lease by Nathaniel Potter is 
recorded. 

General AVilliam Potter built the present milldam or 
at least widened it considerably, dug out the mill race 
and even projected a slii]) cliannel to the mill race from 
the river by means of which vessels could unload grain 
and receive milled goods directh" at the mill. The enor- 
mous expense of this operation which only ])artially suc- 
ceeded is said to have financially involved the projector. 
After the mill liad exchanged hands several times, it 
finally became the ])roperty of Willard C. Todd, the pres- 
ent owner, who has greatly im])r()ved the property by 
adding the latest milling machinery. 

General Potter also maintained a tannery, making 
leather for the people of this section. Remains of this 
old tannery may be seen in the pits which lie at tlie south 
of the mill dam. 



—248- 



So important was this i)oiut at one time that a hotel 
was built and ke])t for some years. This bnildino- has 
since been used as a dwelling. 

The Williston churcli about a mile north of the vil- 
lage was built about forty years ago largely through tlie 
efforts of Elias W. Williamson, a w^ell known county man 
of thirty years ago, who resided near this place. After 
being furnished with ministers from the Methodist Epis- 
copal Conference for many years, it l)ecame several 
years ago, under the active control of the Swedenl)orgian 
Church, Rev. J. E. Smitli, of P]iiladel])liia, being the 
])resent pastor. 

The children of this section went to Gravelly Branch 
or Meluney's schools a mile or two away until 1869, 
when a teacher for Potter's Landing was ai)pointed by 
the School Board. This school seems to have been open 
rather irre.gidarlv till 1877 wlien Dr. J. W. Hignutt 
deeded a piece of land for a scliool site, the present build- 
ing being erected about this time. 

The Williston Mill Pond, latterly known as the 
''Lake," is directly on the State Highway and is |)er- 
haps one of the most beautiful sheets of inland water on 
the Eastern Shore. 



WILLIAMSON. 

Midway between Williston and Andersontown is a 
school called Williamson, named for Elias Williamson, 
one of Caroline's representative men until his death 
about fifteen years ago. Mr. Williamson realizing that 
the community was somewhat distant from a public 
school erected a school building and employed a teacher 
for the benefit of the children of the neighborhood. A 
little later a teacher was provided by the county School 
Board and after Mr. Williamson's death the property 
was purchased by the Board of Education. 

This neighborhood is closely connected witli tlie Wil- 
liston community, for formerly much of the land of both 
sections was OAvned by one or more of the Potters. 

Pealiquor, a river site nearby (the Cape May of 
Caroline) takes its name presumably from the name of 
the oriii'inal tract — Pealicker. 



-249- 



THE BUREAU. 

Many have iiiqiiired the ori.a^n of the building com- 
monly called The Bureau, located on the state road lead- 
ing south from Williston. 

A't the close of the Civil War an effort was made by 
the Federal government to provide in each section of 
the Southern States, a place where religious, educational 
and civil instruction could be given to those that had 
been set free. This structure — A Freedman's Bureau — 
was the one provided for this county as its part of the 
$1,500 used for such purposes. It is said that the lum- 
ber which was brought up the river for this building was 
intended to be delivered at Denton, but was put off low- 
er down by mistake. The colored people have used the 
building continuously for both church and school pur- 
poses until 1910, when the school-room was declared un- 
fit for scliool purposes and a building in Pinetown se- 
cured. 




FREEDMAN'S BUREAU. 



—250— 



HARMONY (Fowling Creek). 

Tliis section liecanso of its nearness to tlie Chop- 
tank river and Talbot comity was one of tlie iirst to be 
settled in the county. 

Fowlino^ Creek is mentioned in one of the earliest 
surveys made and was doubtless early known far and 
wide as tlie haunt of ,2:ame and fowl. 

The earliest mill seems to have been farther down 
the stream than the present one — probably where the 
road k'adin,i>- from the state road to Gilpins Point crosses 
the stream. General Potter was a part owner of the mill 
when reestablished near its present site. 

The name of Harmony was evidently not applied to 
the villao-e until some time after 1840, about which time 
the first church was erected, though there had been a 
chapel nearer Fowlino- Creek for years before this time. 

It seems that a public school was started at this 
point rather early too, for in 1865 when the public school 
system was established, PTarmony school was included in 
the provision. 

Witli a one-room scliool for many years, the popu- 
lation of the community has so increased that a two- 
room school is now a practical necessity. At present the 
patrons are much interested in securing a school site of 
two or three acres and building a model two-room school. 

Harmony Metliodist Protestant Churcli was first a 
churcli of another denomination. On the 12th day of 
Octol)er, 1840, William A. Barton and wife, l)y their deed 
conveyed to Deliha Sparklin and others, trustees, and 
their successors in office for the use of tlie members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of 
America, according to the rules and discipline of that 
church, the "parcel of land lying and being in Caroline 
Couiitv and State of Marvland and immediately on the 
cross roads leading from Fowling Creek and Hog Creek, 
one-half acre of ground be the same more or less." 

On this piece of ground a church was built and ded- 
icated to the service of God and the use of the congre- 
gation. For over seventy-five years services were held 
in this church and from it came a number of ministers 
who are now prominent in the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and many other useful and active christian work- 
ers. At last through mismanagement and neglect, the 

—251— 



congregation went away from the cburcli and it was 
closed. 

During the Fall of 1916 the people of the community 
desiring religious services, requested Mr. AVm. H. John- 
son, a local minister of the Methodist Protestant church 
of Federalsburg, to hold services in the church. He re- 
sponded and a gracious revival came in which about 51 
persons were converted. These desiring to have church 
organization asked for help from the Federalsburg 
church. With the old members of the church who still 
remained a healthy organization was formed, and on the 
5th day of August 1919, for the sum of $250 the people 
of the community bought back their church and rededi- 
cated it to the service of God as a Methodist Protestant 
church. It is now in a vigorous condition and doing the 
great work for which it was tirst deeded by AVilliam A. 
Barton and wife. 



GROVE. 

This section made famous on account of its furnish- 
ing the birthplace of Charles Dickinson who fell in a duel 
with Andrew Jackson as recorded elsewhere in this vol- 
ume and lying directly on the colonial thoroughfare from 
Potter's Landing to Hunting Creek (now the Harmony- 
Preston road) was cleared and settled very early. 

A few years before this county was organized 
Charles Dickinson, the grandfather of the later duellist, 
and who had been a prominent resident of Dorchester 
County as evidenced by his being for awhile the chief 
jurist of that county and the chief of the committee in 
the construction of her first Court House, secured by 
grant and ])urchase several hundred acres of land in the 
Grove neighborhood and had settled there, moving from 
Lower Dorchester. This Mr. Dickinson was the man 
who presided over the well known meeting held at Mel- 
vill's Warehouse in 1774, when resolutions were adopted 
urging resistance to Great Britain in her treatment of 
the colonies. 

Henry Dickinson, the son, acquired possession of 
nearly 2000 acres of this land at the death of his father, 
together with otlier valuable property including many 
slaves. During the Revolutionary Period Henry Dick- 
inson was active in the affairs of his county and at one 

—252— 



time collected and headed a troop of horsemen for the 
war. A member of the first Constitutional Convention 
he became later one of the judges of our County Court. 

Possessed with broad acres and many slaves to do 
the bidding- of the family it seems only natural that the 
home of Henry Dickinson was the centre of social activi- 
ties. In tliis home the boy Charles Dickinson and his 
brother Philip along with the two sisters Elizabeth and 
Rebecca were reared and evidently in accordance with 
tlieir opportunities and the customs of the day, these 
young people were among the leaders in the various so- 
cial functions of the county at the time. 

It seems that the family were Episcopalians and at- 
tended the Hunting Creek Chapel (near Hynson). 

Henry Dickinson died about 1790 and left his large 
estate probal)ly wortli $50,000 to his children. Reared in 
luxury for tlie time it seems only natural that the call of 
the city should he strong to them. Not long after the 
reacliing of manhood by these boys, Charles and Philip, 
do we find them selling their land, Philip in small sec- 
tions, while Charles made larger sales. Elizabeth who 
had married William Richardson of Talbot County, soon 
disposed of her interest as did Rebecca who became the 
wife of Thos. B. Dafifin and resided in Tuckahoe Neck on 
the farm now known as the Thawley Farm. 

Thus in 1803 we find Charles Dickinson who had 
married Jane Erwin of Tennessee, conveying the re- 
mainder of his real estate in Caroline County to his fath- 
er-in-law for the sum of about $12,000. Shortly after 
this he relinquislied his citizenship in Maryland and 
moved to tlie vicinity of Nashville. 

In this connection may it be said that Andrew Jack- 
son, then a rising young man of Tennessee and slightly 
older than Charles Dickinson, had been elected to Con- 
gress then held in Philadelpliia (about 1796-1797). Go- 
ing to Philadelphia as he did on horseback over the well 
established trail via Baltimore, it seems likely that Jack- 
son met in tlie latter citv i^rominent men of this state and 
section. Col. William Richardson, a relative of Charles 
Dickinson, was one of these. Naturally enough, he was, 
on one of these trips invited by Col. Richardson, the own- 
er of a fast sailing sloop, to visit the Eastern Shore and 
acce])ted, staying wliile liere at the Richardson, Dickin- 

—253— 



son, Daffiii and Putter homes in this county. Charles 
Dickinson, with whom he was aT)T)arently much associ- 
ated while on these visits, was a very good sport and 
proved a very interestino- man to Jackson with the result 
that Jackson invited him to his home and associations in 
Tennessee, an offer which Dickinson clearly accepted. 

For years Grove has been the site of a church and 
the parsonage of the Caroline Circuit of the Methodist 
Protestant church — American Corner, Choptank and 
Smithson comprising the remainder of the charge. 

The first public school in this section seems to have 
been taught by Mr. Peter James Patchett shortly after 
the Civil War in a dwelling liouse provided by Mr. Perry 
Taylor. Sliortly afterwards a new school biulding was 
erected near the site of the present one and Miss Annie 
Hains was the first teacher. This building was used for 
school purposes until 1887 when the present school was 
erected. 

After awhile a canner}- was erected on one side of 
the school to be followed in a few years by another can- 
nery on tlie o]iposite side of the school. Hence the origin 
of the term sometimes applied "Cannery Grove." 



LAUREL GROVE. 

Erected as a school site in 1870 when Ager Andrew 
gave one acre of land to the School Board, this school 
has been in operation ever since. After the decay of the 
old building about twenty years ago, the present struc- 
ture was erected. 

Like the church which is immediately across the 
county road, this school takes its name because of the 
fact that formerly the pine woods completely surround- 
ing the school abounds in laurel, which in bloom is in- 
deed very pretty. 

The church here was formerly in the Southern Meth- 
odist denomination, Easton charge, but latterly has 
heen the worshipping place of the Holiness Society. 

To the general section hereabout the name of Pine- 
town is given, and doubtless to many of the older resi- 
dents the school is better known as Pinetow^n than by its 
.official name. 

—254— 



FRIENDSHIP. 

The first cluircli built in tliis comiiuuiity was made of 
logs and located near tlie site of the present building. 

The present edifice, the third one built, was complet- 
ed about 1880 and is ministered to at present by a pastor 
from Williamsburg, in which circuit it is located. 

The first school building in this community was 
erected about one-hundred years ago and was likewise 
made of logs. It was burned in 1851 because of a defec- 
tive stove. School was kepi in a shack for awhile until 
the first of the present l)uilding was erected. In 1911 a 
new room was added, making Friendship a two-room 
school. 

About tliree hundred yards from Friendship on the 
Hynson road may still be seen some walnut trees which 
mark the site of the polling ]dace of this district fifty 
years ago. 



—255— 



PRESTON (Snow HiU). 

Tlio foniuliiii;- of Snow Hill, the forerunner of Pres- 
ton, likely took place about 1845 at wliicli time trees 
were cut and a clearinpc made wliere now stands Preston. 

It seems that the Willis family, later well known in 
this section and county, was the holder of the land here- 
about. Philemon Willis the ancestor of Peter AVillis 
Avbo was an officer in the War of 1812, deeded very earl}^ 
the site of the present M. E. Church. William Gootee, 
one of the first inhabitants of the new villao*e, kept a 
store and included the postoffice to which for miles 
around the ])eople would come once a week to ^^et their 
mail if any tliere be and do their shoppin,";. 

As Snow Hill grew and the cpiantity of mail in- 
creased, frequent delays in the service were made be- 
cause of their being another Snow Hill in Maryland, a 
much older and larger village. Hence it became neces- 
sary to change the name. This was done in 1856 while 
Mr. J. R. Stack of this section was a member of the 
Legislature. Why the name Preston was selected seems 
to be unknown, unless to memorialize some ])rominent 
family in Maryland at that time. The name, however, 
was well selected and continues to add dignity to the 
charms of this favored section. Before 1890, the growth 
of this town was slow due to the lack of transportation 
facilities, Medford's Wharf, now Choptank, being the 
shipping point of this section at that time. However in 
this year the railroad was constructed and Preston be- 
gan to grow. 

In 1908 electric lights were added and in 1916 the 
state road was completed thereby putting the town on 
the main artery of traffic up and down the peninsula. 

In educational matters and sentiment this section 
has always ranked high — explained no doubt in part by 
the settlement of the comnmnity b}^ Friends, a Society 
which has always stood for education and enlightenment 
and latterly by the persistent influence of the once 
famous debating societ}^ of this section. No one can deny 
the fact that these two factors have been important ele- 
ments in the educational strata of this community. 

The first school was said to stand on the road to 
Friendship, but later the building was moved to a site 

—256— 




-257— 



near the present German chnrch. After a few years the 
front room of the okl school building recently sold was 
built and later from time to time a room was added as 
the attendance increased until the building became en- 
tirely inadequate to meet the demands of a modern 
school. In 1918 after repeated efforts on the part of 
several of the leading citizens of the town a handsome 
brick building was erected on a lot of six acres which 
had been previously provided for. The building com- 
mittee was N. H. Fooks, chairman; Chas. B. Harrison, 
Esq., and Walter M. Wright. 

A clipping from the Biniton Journal explains the 
disposition of the older school property located in what 
is now the church grove: 



"The Rev. Thomas A. King, pastor of the New Jerusalem 
Church in Baltimore, and chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Maryland 
^Masons, has brought the old academy building and the grove in 
which it is situated in Preston. He will re-model the house, which 
is a large one, and make it a summer residence for his family. 
It is in a magnificent grove of large primeval white oaks, so few 
of which now remain on the Eastern Shore. The wood covers 9 
squlare perches of land. The house was built in 1863. Last year 
a new school house was erected in another part of the town. The 
first principal was Prof. R. 0. Christian, who had just come out 
of the Confederate army and had no possessions but a battered 
suit of gray," 



Because of the larger German population that had 
gradually come in tile community a parochial schooi was 
established here years ago. In this school both EngUsh 
and German languages as well as church forms were 
taught by the pastor of the church who had cliarge. As 
many of the German patrons had become interested in 
the public school for one reason or another this private 
school was closed about three years ago. 

Chueches. 

The history of the Friends Society in this commu- 
nity may be found elsewhere in this volume under the 
heading — Early Churches. 

Years ago a German Lutheran Churcli was estab- 
lished here and is well attended. Service was formerly 
held in both the English and German languages. 

— 258— 




PRESTON M. E. CHURCH. 



Preston's Early Church. 

Among the earliest Methodist records in our county 
appear the names of William Frazier and Bethesda 
Cha])el. Larscely due to the efforts of Captain Frazier 
Avas the erection of this chapel on the present site of the 
Preston Methodist Church. In July of 1797 Thomas 
Foster, James Andrew, David Sisk, James Sisk, Jacob 
Wriglit, Benjamin Colliston and Daniel Cheezum, trus- 
tees of the Church, purchased from Philemon Willis for 
the sum of 10 shillings the half acre of land on which the 
chapel stood. Frazier, although not oiu^ of the trustees, 
prol3ably arranged for the purchase of this land and his 
name with that of Thomas Weir Lockerman is given as 
testator of the deed. In 1810 the church was incorporat- 
ed in accordance with the provisions of the Maryland 
Assembly with trustees forming the body politic. 

In tile Bethesda Record Book, kept since 1810, there 
are several interesting items concerning the Chapel. A 
colored people's class was held there on Sunday morn- 

—259— 



ing's preceding the regular preaching services, a custom 
not unusual at that time. The duties of the sexton as 
as outlhu'd in the minutes were as follows: 

"Chop wood, make fires, keep house clean and in order, the 
benches and pulpit well dusted, with a pitcher of water on the 
pulpit with a tumbler during church hours, keep lamps trimmed 
and clean, windows to be kept clean and shutters closed during 
the week, the premises kept clear of incumbrances." 

The carpets were to be taken up and the house 
scoured twice a year. For all this the sexton received 
the ])rincely sum of twelve dollars a year. 

Witli the growth of the little town then known as 
Snow Hill a larger church was needed. It was built 
about 1847 from which time it became known as Beth- 
esda Church. Ten years later the church yard was en- 
closed as a burying ground for Methodists of that sec- 
tion. 

Repairing and remodelling done in 1888 and 1903 
have greatly enlarged and improved the building, which 
is at present an up-to-date church of considerable size. 

LINCHESTER. 

This village, formerly called Alurray's Mill, is on 
the site of one of the first settlements witliin the boun- 
daries of Caroline County. 

During the Revolutionary War, this mill still in ex- 
istence, did its share towards furnishing food to the sol- 
diers not alone in this section but for a very large terri- 
tory. Large scows could at that time come direct to the 
mill and be loaded with Hour and meal to be reloaded on 
larger \'essels on the Choptank River. 

There must have been a store or two kept here at 
that time. Likewise an ordinary (boarding house) which 
was licensed by the County court. Before 1775 people 
from this section attended the old Episcopal chapel that 
stood on tlie road leading from wliat is now known as 
Ellwood cami) to Hynson and near the latter place. This 
church like others of the same denomination was prac- 
tically chxsed by the Revolutionary War, and as its suc- 
cessor ill this community the meeting at William Fra- 
zier's liome was organized. 

—260— 



Tliroiig'li the iiiHiU'iice of Robt. D. Bradley, once a 
member of the Ma r> land Les^islatnre, the name of tlie 
place was chani>-ed to Linchester — Lin being taken from 
Caroline and Chester likewise from Dorchester, these 
two connties forming a boundary at this point. 




LINCHESTER AT PRESENT. 



CHOPTANK. 



This name, given to the most sonthern village of 
Caroline County on the Clioptank River, dates back to 
about ]889 wlien it was known as Medford's Wharf and 
even then was in daily communication with Baltimore 
by two lines of steamers. Later on, three steamers daily 
left its wharves for our IMetropolis. 

About 1882 or 1883 the Wright l)rothers located 
here, along with some earlier settlers, and started some 
enterprises wliicli caused the settlement to grow rapidly. 
Tlie postoffiee was estal^lislied al)out the time the name 
was changed to Choptank. 



-261— 



Formerly the children of this section attended a 
school called Hunting Creek located some distance away. 
About 1892 a large school building was erected at Chop- 
tank. 

A little earlier two churches were erected — Metho- 
dist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant. 

The village is noted for its fisheries, perhaps, the 
best in the county. As many as 60,000 herring an.l shad 
are said to have been caught in a single day. 

The inhabitants number about 200. 



-262— 



BETHLEHEM. 

Situated on tlie main tlioroughfare leading to East- 
on, this village has had a commanding location for years. 

Just when the settlement began is not known, but 
suffice to say that Bethlehem has been on the map for a 
long time. 

Both a church and school have long contributed to 
the religious and social wants of the community. 

In 1865, the school which had heretofore existed as 
a subscribed, or community school, was turned over to 
the county and became a part of the state school system. 
For years the present building was located on the church 
lot in the village, Init the great need of more room for 
play-ground led to the school's being moved a few years 
ago to its present site. 

One of the largest tomato canneries on the peninsu- 
la is located here — the property of Mr. A. J. Messick. 

The road leading to the river called Dover Road, 
was long ago so named because of its leading to the an- 
cient town of Dover on the Talbot side of the river. 

The earlier enterprise of the localit)^ may be seen in 
the announcement of a fair to be held hereabout as per 
the following clip]iing: 

Caroline's Fair. 

"The Bethlehem Fair to be held on the second, third, and 
foiirtlj of next month, will probably eclipse all others ever held in 
the County. The programme comprises almost everything that con- 
tributes to make such occasions interesting and amusing. Prof. 
Faux, the champion pedestrian, will make a novel race during the 
Fair with a fast trotting horse. He is to walk one-half mile in 
less than the horse can trot a mile. Sportsmen ought surely to see 
this. As there is no entrance fee to be paid on the property ex- 
hibit, come and make the Fair what it deserves to be, a success. 
The Ladies of Harmony are making a flag and streamer to present 
to the Fair Association." 

SMITHSON. 

In the year 1873 the school was built at Smithson. 
The name Hog Creek was first .given to the settlement 
and the school, probably, by the settlers who lived along 
Hog Creek branch. As there was no church near, re- 
li,gious ser\aces were held in the school for a while. Three 
years later, a churcli was built and named Smithson 
Chapel for the first minister, Rev. Rumsey Smithson. 

—263— 



The naiiie of the school was then changed to Smithsoii, 
by which it is still called. 

Ill 1895 a post-office was established. It was suggest- 
ed that the |)ost-office be called Newton in honor of Mr. 
Newton Andrew, who was postmaster. When a few 
years later the post-office was discontinued, this name 
was dropped and the village now goes by the name of 
Smith son. 

INDIANS. 

In the early part of the eighteenth century there 
were Indians in Smithson vicinity. One tribe lived at 
.Yellow Hill. Besides their wigwams they had several 
caves, tlie remains of which can still be seen. 

.V story is told of a family by the name of Willough- 
by that lived near where MacCarty's wharf now is. One 
day, when their little son Richard was only a few weeks 
old, the father being in the field and the mother hanging 
out clothes, the Indians crept in and stole the baby. 
They took him to Yellow Hill and kept him six weeks. 
Tlie father, with a band of his neighbors, went to the 
cam]) and brought the little boy home. 

There seems to have been some Indians along the 
Hog Greek branch. One tribe went far up the branch 
and remains of their camp and medicine ])it were found 
only a few years ago. Others lived near Blairtown, for 
we know they had a large burying ground there and 
their caves have been found along the banks. Still oth- 
ers lived near what is now the Hog Creek Mill dam. 
When the dam was being rebuilt several things which 
the Indians had buried were dug from the banks. 

Blairtown referred to above was clearly a settle- 
ment of slaves belonging to Charles Blair about 1790. 
The site of this settlement was just below Hog Creek 
brancli on the road leading from Harmony to Smithson. 
In 1825 much of the land in this neighborhood was pur- 
chased from the heirs of Blair by Short A. Willis, the 
father of Col. A. J. Willis, Avho died at Williston a few 
years ago. 

Over one hundred years ago a brick grist mill was 
built along Hog Creek. Perhaps the bricks for this 
building were brought up the Choptank from some point 
below where bricks were then made. It is not likely that 
any of them were brought from England. 

—26 



Ill this section, several militiamen for service in the 
Revolntionaiy War were secured. 

Contril)iited by Pupils. 

HUBBARD'S. 

Hubbard's or the Fraziers' Flats region as it is 
more generally known, was one of the earliest settled 
portions of what is now Caroline county. Tradition has 
it that this settlement was intended to be made in Talbot 
county from which section the early settlers came. This 
seems quite plausible and perhaps, is true. In those 
times grants of land were not as definitely outlined as 
now by degrees and minutes. It seems that the grant 
included territory above the "second turning of the 
Choptank river," hence a mistake in the number of bends 
in the river from its mouth would easily place this site 
on either side of the river. 

Then too the soil in this region is very clayey and 
similar to that of Talbot county. Under these conditions 
it was only natural that persons from the former county 
would locate in the new territory and bring with them 
their religious worship. This, it seems, is what happen- 
ed as a Friends' meeting was very early established — 
perhaps shortly after 1700. 

The Flats' territory is really included by two creeks 
— Skillington on the south and Edmonson on the north. 
These two streams take their names from Thomas Skil- 
lington and John Edmonson, natives of Talipot county, 
who were referred to above as taking up the land in this 
section. 

It seems, too, that the ferry across the Choptank 
was in this section, connecting the roads that led from 
Easton to Hunting Creek (now Linchester), thereby 
making this way a thoroughfare. 

Later on William Frazier, a prominent citizen, 
churchman, and soldier, acquired much of this land and 
erected thereon a handsome brick residence as referred 
to elsewhere in this volume. In this house church ser- 
vices were held for years; these were sometimes attend- 
ed bv Bishop Asburv. 

It seems likely, too, that these people, many of whom 
were Quakers, had used their meeting house doubtless as 
a school in the early life of the colony. The public school 

—265— 



for this section which Avas in operation prior to 1865 
was at that time tnrned over to the County Board of Ed- 
ucation. About 1872 the pre?;ent site was acquired and 
a buihling- erected thereon. This buildino; was enlarged 
in the year 1919. 

About twenty-live years aii'o a colony of Dutch peo- 
ple from the Northwest settled here and named the ter- 
ritory "Wilhehnina" after the Dutch Queen. Several 
farms were made and for a time the people prospered, 
biddino- fair to dyke some of the marsh area in that re- 
gion according to the ]ilan followed in their mother 
country. 

The Frazier residence was again used as a place of 
worship l)y tliese Hollanders after a period of one hun- 
dred years. Several vears ago, however, these colonies 
began to move awa^^ and at present there are only a few 
of the former families living liere. 



—266— 



FEDERALSBURG (North West Fork Bridge). 



Origin and Unification of the Town. 

The first inhabitants of the county around Federals- 
burg were the tribes of the Xantieoke Indians. Although 
tbey were not so fierce as the Susquehannoughs of north- 
ern Maryland, neither were they so friendly as the Pis- 
cataway tribes of the western shore. Whether this at- 
titude toward white people delayed the settlement of the 
county we cannot say; but as early as 1682 James and 
William Wright, who came from England (probably 
Bristol) with one of William Penn's colonies, settled 
on Marshyhope Creek, the headwaters of the Northwest 
Fork of the Nanticoke Eiver. When Caroline County 
was formed in 1774, this land fell within its boundaries. 
By an act of the General Assembly of 1792 the southern 
boundary was extended to Noris Ford (a corruption of 
Nortliwest Fork Ford), because the newly erected bridge 
at that spot had taken the place of the one which had 
marked the Caroline-Dorchester division line before it 
had been washed away. 

Already the possibilities of this point where cross- 
country traffic forded the river had been foreseen by a 
Mr. Cloudsberry Jones, who built a store, and began to 
sell groceries and liquor there about the year 1789. This 
was die nucleus of a small village w^hich so patently owed 
its growth to the bridge that it was called ''Northwt-sl 
Fork Bridge," or "The Bridge" until early m 1812 
when politics took the naming of the little town in hand. 
By this time the Federalist Party had reached that stage 
of decline which is characterized by a fever-heat of loy- 
alty and enthusiasm. The party was strong on the Del- 
aware-Maryland peninsula, and a rousing mass-meeting 
was held at "The Bridge." People came from far and 
near ; the militia drilled and paraded with all the pomp 
and ceremony of military glory; drums beat and fifes 
shrieked; the Stars and Stripes, together with the party 
flag, were cheered to the top of an immense flag pole ; 
prominent speakers of the day used all their gifts of ora- 
tory to foster the pride, and" kindle the enthusiasm for 
party and party principles. Something must be done, 
such emotion demanded an outlet; of the patriotism, 
enthusiasm, and party loyalty of that day was born a 

—267— 



new name for the town — Federalsburg'. The few Repub- 
licans of the locality voiced their protest by still refer- 
ring to "The Bridge"; however, though Republican prin- 
ciples finally triumphed, the Federalist name was held 
and Federalsburg it has ever remained. 

The road following the river had been made the 
boundary between Caroline and Dorchester counties 
through that section which is now the site of Federals- 
burg; but as the line of houses which grew up along it 
developed into proportions of a village, this dividing line 
threatened the peaceful existence and growth of tlie 
to-wai. People living on the west, or Dorchester, side of 
Main Street, sent their children to the village school. 
Those living on the East, or Caroline, side sent them to 
the district school at Tanyard Branch, a mile and a half 
distant. The residents of the same town paid their taxes 
into separate county treasuries, and were more or less 
attached to separate interests. Offenders against tlie 
law could baffle and embarrass its officers merely by 
dodging from one side of the street to the other. More- 
over, voters in Caroline County had to go to Linchester 
to cast their l)allots, while the Dorchester population 
went either to East New Market or to Crotcher's Ferry 
according to the section of the village in which they liv- 
ed. 

So great and so general had the dissatisfaction over 
these inconveniences become by 1880 that a petition sign- 
ed by every voter in the Dorchester part of town, sev- 
enty in all, was sent to the Legislature asking for such a 
change in the boundary between the two counties that 
the town and its suburbs might be wholly within Caro- 
line County. This request was granted, and u]:)on the 
payment of $614 into the Dorchester treasury by the 
transferred tax-payers, the change was duly authorized 
and made. Thus, with the wiping out of the dividing, 
line, Federalsburg became a unified whole. 

Early Industries. 

Probably Federalsburg 's earliest industry, and cer- 
tainly its most picturesque one, was its ship-building. 
The surrounding white oak forests furnished the mate- 
rial, but as tliis industry ante-dated the saw-mill, the 
old-time whip-saw had to be employed to convert it into 
lumber. To operate this saw a trestle was erected ; one 

—268— 



man sawed from the elevated position while his eodab- 
oi'er at the other end of the saw worked on the ground. 
.Vs the water was too shallow foi' these ships to be 
laniK'hed at Fe<leralsbiiro* anyway, it was not important 
that they be built at any definite i)lace; hence keels were 
laid at many different ))oiuts in the southern part of 
the town. 




PHOTO BY 
OAVIS 

FCDERALSBURG 



MANTICOKE RIVER VlC^f- > LOf..ai%!utis.lBiA»l 
I 



Upon the completion of a ship, it was conveyed on a 
scow, or lighter, to Brown's Wharf, a landing four miles 
farther down the river. From thence it was launched, 
laden, and sent n])()n its career as a bay and river trading 
vessel. Tlie same landing was naturally the shipping- 
])()int for Fech'ralsburg merchants, although boats of 
lighter draft ascended as far as Chimney Landing, a 
distance of less than two miles from the town. Twice 
yearly, in spring and in fall, the local store-keepers load- 
ed a boat with tan-bark and cord-wood, and returned 
from the Chesapeake cities with a miscellaneous supply 
of citv needfuls for their countrv trade. 



—269- 



The first ship built at Federalsburg was ''The Clip- 
per." This was followed by the "Richard Tull," the 
'*Eo-,i;ieston Brown," the "Marv Havelow," the "Jacob 
Charles," the "Pearl," and the "Annabelle." Of these 
the "Pearl" was the largest and best eqnipped, and the 
"Annabelle," built by Mr. Jacob Covey, and named for 
his two daughters, was the last. The industry ceased at 
Federalsburg some time before the Civil War. 

Exclusive of shi])-lmilding, the work of the town 
centered around the mill-dam at its northern extremity. 
Mr. John Elliott owned and operated the mills there. 
At these mills, later known as the "Idlewild Mills," logs 
which had been floated up from considerable distance 
downstream while the tide was coming in, were convert- 
ed into lumber, in which form they made the return trip 
down the river and on to Baltimore. To the Idlewild 
mills also came the fleeces from the country-side, there 
to be carded and combed, and made into "rolls" for the 
spinning-wheels of thrifty housewives. Thence, too, 
came the wheat, destined eventually to be molded into 
the smoothe, round "Maryland Biscuit," and the corn 
for the quick batter-bread. Smelting iron-ore obtained 
from the valley of the town was tried for a time, but it 
proved unprofitable. As a means of furnishing power 
for grinding wheat and corn, and for generating elec- 
tricity the dam was used continuously until the last 
mill was burned in 1916. 

Fifty years ago, and more, all the merchants bought 
tanlmrk just as they buy butter, eggs, and other farm 
products today. The bark was cut into slabs and sold 
by the cord. Spanish oak bark commanded the higher 
price. It was shipped in the slab form in which it was 
bought at the country stores. Black oak bark, however, 
was shredded after the coarse, sapless part of the bark 
had been removed. jMr. Henry Mowbray, who kept a 
store at "The Point," was the only person who shredded 
the bark. Prior to the year 1840 there had been a tan- 
yard of some importance on the farm of a Mr. Wright, 
one and one-lialf miles east of town. By that time, how- 
ever, tlie tan-V)its had fallen into disuse, and the build- 
ing in which hides had been stored was being used as a 
schoolhouse. The industry, thus abandoned, has never 
been revived in the vicinity, but the name, "Tanyard 
Branch,' still marks the site of the activity. 

—270— 



The Federalsburg Tavern. 

In the days before the Civil War there was located 
in Federalsburg an old-fashioned tavern, originally own- 
ed by a man named Perry. It stood on the east side of 
the bridge crossing the North West Fork, about ten or 
fifteen feet back from the road on the meadow land ad- 
joining the late T. (). Jefferson property. The structure 
was mounted on the slope of the hillside, so that while 
the rear of the building rested on the ground the main 
entrance was reached by a steep flight of steps. Rect- 
angular in shape, luning two stories topped oft" with an 
ample garret under the roof, this old tavern was similar 
to the colonials inns of the time of George III. 

Like them, its first proprietors were dispensers of 
liquor. Later in its history it became a stopping ])lace 
for negro traders on tlieir way to Patty Cannon's at 
Johnson's Cross Roads. 

In later years this old inn was used as a private 
dwelling by various Federalsburg families. It was wdiile 
being occupeid by Mr. Hill Smith that the building was 
finallv destroyed by fire. 




—271— 



History of Our Transportation. 

The rivers and bays of a new countr^^ are its first 
routes of trade and transportation. Hence river traffic 
with Baltimore, as well as with some smaller towns of 
the Chesapeake, began at an early date. Cordwood, 
lumber, tanbark, and wheat, as well as less bulky ]n'o- 
dncts were loaded on to heavy scows and pushed down 
the river by four or five muscular men using long poles. 
At Brown's Wharf, four or five miles below Federals- 
burg, these commodities were re-loaded upon schooners 
or other sailing vessels and sent up the ba}^ 

Before the Civil War there was little cross-country 
transportation for an^^thing except mail and passengers. 
For these, there were the picturesque old stage coaches. 
Even after the war, they made daily trips from Bridge- 
ville to Federalsburg, and thence to Cambridge and East- 
on. These lines were operated by Mr. AVesley Moore 
and Mr. James Finsthwaite. 

The Seaford and Cambridge division of the Penn- 
sylvania "Railroad was opened for traffic on Oct. 12, 1868, 
although at that time it extended only from Seaford to 
East New Market. This date marked a new era in the 
history of Federalsburg, for it is that railroad, with its 
refrigerator car accommodation, which has made New 
York, Philadelphia and other northern cities the mar- 
kets for tlie perislial)le ])roducts of our gardens and or- 
chards. 

Union Methodist Episcopal Church. 

This church was organized in 1785, in a house own- 
ed and occupied then by Jacob Charles. This liouse 
stands near the bridge which spans the North West Fork 
of the Nanticoke river which flows through the town, and 
is at this date, 1919, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. John 
Snnth. Tlie first church Imilding was erected in 1815, 
and stood within the bounds of the present cemeter^^ 
The ground was purchased from one Eccleston Brown 
and his wife, for the consideration of sixty cents. Upon 
this ground a frame building was erected for the use of 
the Methodists as a place of worship. The trustees were 
Paul Conaway, Constant Wright, Joshua AVright. Ferdi- 
nand Griffith, and William Frampton. This building was 
occupied as a place of worsliip for botli colored and white 
people until 1850, when it was sold and moved to a i)oint 

—272— 




ilHIIB!"""'" 



^ DAVIS 
TEDERALSBURG 









UNION M. E. CHURCH, TO THE LEFT. 



about oiiG liuiidrcd yards south, and on the East side of 
Main street, wlierc it was occupied as a car])enter shop 
for a number of years. Later it was sohl and a part of 
it moved to the rear of the residence now occupied by 
Charles M. Davis and wife, and still serves as a part of 
his outbuildino-s. The ))resent church Iniildino-, that is 
the main part, was built in 1850, on ground bought from 
Jacob Charles and wife. Again the consideration was 
the sum of sixty cents. At this time the board of trus- 
tees consisted of Paul Conawav, Jacob Charles, Charles 
Willis of E., John Elliott, Joseph L. Kenney, Curtis 
Davis, and William M. Wingate, M. D. In the years 
WOl and 1902 the liuilding was repaired, and enlarged 
by the addition of an annex on the south side. Tlie cost 
of the imiH'Ovements was $3o75.00. Tiie building Avas 
reopened for worship on the 29th day of June, 1902. At 
this time the Rev. Thomas S. Holt was the pastor. In 
the year 1912 the building was again repaired and en- 
larged bv tlie addition of a room in the rear for the ac- 



—273- 



commodatioii of the Beginners and the Primary depart- 
ments of the Sunday school. The cost of these improve- 
ments was $1400.00'. 

In 1914 a pipe organ was installed at a cost of 
$1700.00. These last improvements were made during 
the pastorate of the Rev. T. E. Terry, from 1912 to 1914. 

For many years the church was a part of a large cir- 
cuit, during which time ]:)reaching on the Sabbath was 
done by local preachers, the pastors preaching only dur- 
ing the week. Later it was made the head of a smaller 
circuit, with preaching by the pastor on the Sabbath. 
In 1902 the charge was made a station. 

By Rev. F. C. MacSorley. 

Christ Methodist Protestant Church. 

The present structure, now known as Christ Metho- 
dist Protestant Church of Federalsburg, was originally 
Federalsburg Presbyterian Church, therefore, any 
sketch or history of Christ church in order to be in any 
way complete must include the history of the Presbyte- 
rian church which was the beginning of it. 

In the year 1871 under the leadership of a Rev. Mr. 
Boing a congregation was assembled and October 6th 
regularly organized as a Presbyterian church. Mr. H. 
P. Chambers was elected Secretary and Messrs. Jas. A. 
Sanders, Edward R. Goslin, John Wilson, Jacob Rhoads, 
and H. P. Chambers were the Finance Committee. The 
original trustees were Edward R. Goslin, H. P. Cham- 
bers, W. C. Logan, R. Mitchell, J. Rhoads, J. A. Sanders, 
Dr. W. D. Noble and John Wilson. 

A hall was rented and properly seated and the ser- 
vices proceeded regularly until the present fine structure 
was erected. The lot on which it stands was bought from 
Dr. Noble and the building erected during the years 
1872 and 1873. 

Regular services were held after this until the year 
1897. At this time most of the congregation had moved 
away or died and it was decided to abandon the work 
and leave the property in the hands of the New Castle 
Presbytery. The last meeting of the session was record- 
ed on"Sept. 30th, 1897 by S. A. Logan, Clerk. Rev. Mr. 
Blackwell was Pastor at Bridgeville and served this 
church in connection with that charge. 

For about five eyars after that the church remained 
closed. 

—274— 




-275— 



In 1902, a inimber of jMctliodist Protestant families 
liavini;' moved into the town and vicinity, it was decided 
to form a Methodist Protestant church. Mr. James B. 
AVrio'ht, a loyal Methodist Protestant, seeing the need, 
bought the church building from the New Castle Pres- 
bytery and advanced the money until such time as the 
congregation should be able to repay him. Eev. Herbert 
F. Wright, who was then Pastor at Reliance, opened ser- 
vices in the church building and June 12tli, 1902 Christ 
Methodist Protestant church was dul.y organized. 

Since that time services have continued to be held 
continuously and the church has gained until it has 
reached its present strength and usefulness and has be- 
come one of the strongest ]jowers for good in the com- 
nuinity. 

By Pev. J. L. Nichols. 

Schools. 

The first school in Federalsburg was situated on the 
west side of Main Street midway between Academy Ave- 
nue and the M. P. Church. One of the first teachers was 
Mr. Thomas Brown, who settled here in the latter part 
of the eighteenth century. This building was accident- 
ally burned during the term taught by Miss Lizzie Gos- 
liiL It, as well as its successor, built near the point 
where Main Street became the Preston road, was under 
the management of Dorchester County. The first Caro- 
line County school within town limits stood adjoining 
the present site of the M. E. Church. 

Following these came the Academy, at first a one- 
room frame structure over which Miss Augusta Paine 
first presided as school-mistress. With the growth of 
the town, however, other rooms were added until, when 
last used, it comprised six rooms. Even the conversion 
of an adjacent machine shop into a ])rimary school failed 
to meet the growing demands of the town and commu- 
nity; a more commodious ])uilding was an imperative 
necessity. 

One of the last public acts of the Hon. E. E. Goslin, 
who had championed the Academy and donated the first 
five hundred dollars to it, was to obtain the passage of 
a bill api)ropriating money for the erection of the pres- 

—276— 



eiit }Iii>li School huildhii;', first occupied in 1915. This 
building' is a large stucco structure of two stories and 
basement. Its thirteen class rooms, auditorium, lunch- 
room, lilirary. text-book room, office, and rest room, are 
heated ))y steam. Klectrie lights, bells, telephones, 
and running water are other mdoern conveniences which 
help to make it one of the finest and best equipped 
schools on the Eastern Shore. 




PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING. 



Colored Schools. 



Standing where ^lain Street curves to form the 
"Point" is a little shop where Mr. Richard TuU (a white 
num) did carpenter work by day and taught the colored 
inhabitants by night. Somewhat later a school house 
was built for tlicm at (^)uaker Branch, where the Hous- 
ton's Brancli road leaves town. A part of the old color- 
ed church opposite Mt. Pleasant Cemeterv also did ser- 
vice as an institution of learning until the erection of 
tlie atti'active new Iniihling on the Nichols road met ex- 
isting needs. 

(Fi'om matei'ial collected by Fedei'alsburg Pu])ils.) 



-277- 




p 

H 
Pi 
o 



X 
o 

P 

o 

m 
p. 
o 



—278— 



HICKORY HILL. 

Ill the year 1872 a piece of land was bought from 
Mr. Alfred Davis and Mr. James Willis on which to 
build a school. 

The school was built in a hickory grove on a small 
hill, so they decided to call it Hickory Hill. In 1916 the 
school was burned, then for two years the children of 
this section went in a hack to Federalsburg school. 

In the year 1918 the people in the vicinity of Hick- 
ory Hill School met and subscribed a certain amount of 
money to erect a new school. At the end of the year the 
new school was completed. Two miles away from Hick- 
ory Hill School is a church by the name of Liberty that 
was built in the year 1907. 

In the year 186:) the slaves of the United States were 
freed by our president, Abraham Lincoln. Many of the 
slaves of the United States were badly treated. There 
were many kidnappers in the east. Kidnappers caught 
the negroes wherever they went and then sent them 
south and sold them for a good price. The greatest 
kidnapper near Hickory Hill neighborhood was Patty 
Cannon. She was as strong as a man and lived where 
Reliance now stands. She went around in a one-horse 
wagon trying to catch negroes. She would invite them 
to take a ride with her, and when they were in the wagou 
would throw them down and tie them hand and foot. 
Then she would take them to her home and put them in 
her slave pen, until she had enough to send south and 
sell. 

Pupils of Hickory Hill School. 



NICHOLS. 

The old school house built of logs many years ago, 
stood near where Mr. Cohee's house now is. It was 
named Midway because it was about half-way between 
Friendship and Federalsburg. 

The present school site was luireliascd from James 
A. Nichols in 1896, since which time it has l)een known 
officially as Nichols School. 

A sorgum mill was also built in tliis section long 
ago. Mr. Oorkran built it. 

—279— 



HOUSTON'S BRANCH. 

Houston's Branch is the name applied to a small 
stream emptying into the North West Fork a few miles 
above Federalsbnrg. It was eivdently named for James 
Houston who came to this seetion from Sussex County 
about 1800 and became one of the most representative 
citizens of this section and well known in county affairs. 
Mr. Jlouston was probably the earliest miller in this 
neighborhood. 

As English and Scotch people settled this commu- 
nity largely, their descendants naturally clung to tiie 
Episcopal church — so much so in fact that a church of 
that denomination was established here years ago. For 
lack of sup])ort, however, it ceased to thrive and finally 
was closed. 

After the I.iberty school district was divided about 
1S71, tlie Houston's JBranch scliool district was laid off 
and a building erected. With the exception of one or 
two years when the school was closed because of poor 
attendance, it has been in operation ever since. To this 
school belongs the honor of having the first concrete 
steps in the county, built by the patrons during the in- 
cumbency of Mrs. S. E. Parsons, teacher. 



—•280— 




SCENE AT COXCORD CAMP. 



CONCORD. 



Concord was given its name abont 1804, at wiiicli 
time John Mitchell, Isaac Collins, Sr., Horatio Sliort, 
Francis Elliott, Peter Causey, James Jenkins, and 
James Snllivan, trnstees, api)ointe(l l)y the society that 
•w^as then meeting at Abraham Collins Innise (near Pot- 
ter's Mill Pond) and approved by the preaclier in cliargu 
(bongli't from Abraham Collins for $15, one and one-twen- 
tieth acres of hind for a nu'eting house to be called Con- 
cord. There had ap])arently been no name given to tlie 
region up to tliis time as the records simply speak of 
the intersection of the two roads, one leading from 
Greensboro to limiting Creek and tlic otliei- from Pot^ 
ter's Landing to ]\Iarshyho])e Bridge. 

Tlie first church at Concord was Imilt near tlic site 
of the ])resent one. Botli white and coh)riMl p','o))le ;\t- 
tended this churcli. The latter entereil l)v a s;>i)arnte 
door which led directly u]) to the gallery. The present 
church Avas erected and dedicated slH)rtly l)efore tlie 
Civil War. Tlie l)uilding committee consisted of l^eter 



-281— 



Sullivan, Gootee Stevens, Wingate Neal, William M. A. 
Liclen, and Tilghman Nuttle. No account was given of 
the dedication. The buikling was done apparently by 
Thomas Murphy. There is a receipt from him dated 
Jan. 10, 1857 which together with other papers indicate 
a total of $1861.82 which most likely represents the cash 
outlay for the building — a considerable sum for a rural 
church edifice at that time. The church membership in 
1847 was one hundred and five divided into three classes. 
The leaders of the classes were Peter Sullivan, Richard 
Lockerman and Gootee Stevens. The colored members 
numbered seventy-seven. 

The first camp meeting at Concord was held in 1857 
under the joint pastorate of Revs. W. W. Warner and 
■Daniel George. Before this time the local camp had 
been held at Meluney's woods near Andersontown. 

Rev. William Taylor, afterward a bishop, preached 
the Sunday the money ($60) was raised to pay for four 
nacres of land for the camp ground. At this time Con- 
•cord church was included in the Denton circuit. 

Some years ago the Concord church was complete- 
ly remodelled and about 1906 a parsonage was built, 
since which time Concord has been a circuit and con- 
tinues the seat of the county's largest and most noted 
,camp ground. 

Trustees for a public school at Concord were first 
appointed by the School Board in 1865, before which 
time by many years a school was ai)])arently maintain- 
ed. In 1876 the present school site was purchased from 
Joseph Mowbray. 

HOWARD'S. 

Howard's takes its name from several families by 
that name who live in the community. The last genera- 
tion of these people came from England about forty 
j^ears ago and proved themselves worthy of their native 
and adopted lands by liecoming enter])rising and leading 
citizens. 

In this community as early as 1804 some of the res- 
idents planned the establishment of a church and receiv- 
ed a visit from Bishop Asbury. 

Being rather too distant to i)ublic schools the local 
citizens in 1909 contributed several hundred dollars to- 
wards the erection of the ]n"esent school l)uilding. 

—282— 



AMERICAN CORNERS. 

For several years the polling place of the famous 
Eighth district, this village is located on the state high- 
way about live miles from Federalsburg. 

Years ago one or two stores, a few dwellings and a 
tomato cannery seemed to be the equipment of the town. 
Later, however, the inhabitants of the section succeeded 
in building a church which belongs to the Methodist 
Protestant denomination and is attended by the minis- 
ter from Grove. 

About this time the people tired of sending their 
cliildren so far to school, joined in building a school and 
finally succeeded in getting the county to take over the 
responsibilitv. This latter transaction took place in 
1889. 



—283- 



SMITHVILLE AND COMMUNITY. 

Days have come, days have gone; 

People have lived and died; 
Xo longer the woods seems to be 

Where once we played "hide." 

Houses spacious now are standing, 

Fields of grain and fruits galore 
Where once the folks of this community 

Lived several years before. 

In the morn the flowers bloometh. 

All its beauty fadeth soon; 
In the spring the birdies call. 

But winter calms their tune. 

Changes ! All, yes, there are many more. We, even 
change in onr dress, appearance and habits as the years 
roll by. Places change too. How surprised our fore- 
fathers would be if they could see the little village 
where once they lived and helped to build; buildings 
where once their dead were laid away; and roads where 
years ago were nothing but acres and acres of trees. 
Since those days many changes have taken place. 

Instead of the pleasant country and the little village 
which we now see, in the years long ago, there were only 
Indians cam])ed here and there. If we were to take a 
walk down the pond now we would see many kinds of 
flowers blooming on tall bushes. Some of these were 
proliably ])lantcd by the Indians. We can also find their 
curious looking darts scattered over the country which 
they shot from their arrows, and bricks which they made 
their floors of can be seen yet, thus indicating that a 
tent was once there. Now, some people wonder what has 
become of the Indians. But, we can soon tell. 

When the white settlers first came over here they 
wanted the land for their own. Tliey knew that they 
must get rid of these red faced Deoiile, so they kept driv- 
ing tribe after tribe awav until at last all left. 

Mr. Richard Liden was the first man to come from 
England who helloed drive them away. 

The white people had come to a beautiful land; a 
land rich in valuable woods, bountifully supplied with 
game and streams abounding with myriads of waterfowl. 
Many years went by, each year bringing more people to 
this country. What were they to do? Make it a place 
suitable to live in and to sunnort themselves. So they 
began to clear up the land bv cutting down the trees, us- 
ing w1int thoy couhl and destroving the rest. 

—28 



The next question whicli arose was — tlie building of 
homes. Wlierc were they to build? The Indians select- 
ed their site on the bank of a stream. This stream led up 
to a place called old Bloomery where there were several 
shops. Yet, many years elapsed, people lived and died, 
between the time the first homes were built and the be- 
ginning: of these shops. But, John and William Douglass 
about 1800 came to this section and bought land, pre- 
sumably for the purpose of erecting iron works, since it 
has been sup])Osed there was a bright prospect of iron 
ore, and one of these men was an excellent iron master. 
They were successful with their work for a while and 
thus before tlieir coming tlie place was without a name, 
but when all the pits got on fire they called it "blum- 
ing, " naming the place '^Blumery. " The term Blumery 
was also given to the tract of land from which the iron 
ore was thought to be found. In late years the "oo" 
has taken the place of the "u" now spelled Bloomer3\ 

This country was very thinly v)0]3ulated then. Fol- 
lowing the stream, it led to a place where one brick 
building and two small one story houses stood. A Mr. 
Dukes lived in one of the two small houses. It seems 
that Peter Jenkins once lived in the brick structure and 
ke})t a little store. Later Mr. AVheeler occupied the same 
building and was the owner of several acres of land sur- 
rounding his home. About the year 1840 Samuel G. 
Smith bought the land and property from Mr. Wheeler. 
In 1869, Robert Bullock bought it and lives there at the 
present time. Mr. Smith was a very industrious man, 
always thinking or carrying out some plan for the bet- 
terment and improvement of the community. He was 
the one that built the first saw mill at this place, al- 
though there were mills there before he came, namely, 
James Houston was the owner of a grist mill where th^ 
road from Federalsburg to Blumery leads across 
Brights Branch — which is the outlet of the millpond. 
James Wright, also, at one time owned the mill and prob- 
ablv Levin and Isaac Smith before him, tliat was before 
1800. Mr. Samuel G. Smith bought tlie same mill site 
about 1849 and conducted an u]) and down saw mill, but 
later discontinued it and carried on a grist and bark mill 
there. It was he that built the brick mill now standing 
but remodelled by Mr. AVilliam T. Hignntt, he being the 
owner of it for several years. ■ 

—285— 



The coming of that man, Samuel G. Smith, to our 
village gave it the name of Smithville wliich name has 
never been changed. 

He was interetsed in the spiritual welfare of the 
people as well as the industrial. He hadn't been located 
here very long before he started tent meetings near old 
Bloomery where the church now stands. After some 
time they built a small meeting house. This was used 
for religious worship until the people were able to afford 
better, which was in the vear 1854, when they constructed 
a new church which has always carried the name of 
Bloomery. 

The first school in this section was apparently locat- 
ed between Brights Branch and Old Bloomery. In 1798 
James Wright sold to several persons a lot of land, one 
acre, and provided a small house thereon to be used for 
a school reserving unto himself and his heirs one twen- 
tieth of the rights of the school. AVe presume he intend- 
ed to reserve the privilege of his children attending 
there. The consideration was one pound, or five dollars. 
The children probably went to this school until they be- 
gan to think it was too far to walk and the way was 
somewhat sandy. For a while they sent them to Liden's 
School, but still it was too far away. This belief caused 
a school to be built in a more central place near the 
crossroads by the big liickory tree. This was called 
Hickory Hill. It did not stand many years before it was 
burned. William Edward Liden and Bennett Todd were 
the chief instruments in the construction of the next 
school. Mr. Liden giving a corner of his land near the 
cross roads for it to be built upon. After some years 
they discontinued its use, and Caroline County bought 
almost an acre of land from Thawley not quite midway 
between the big hickory tree and the village of Smith- 
ville for a new^ school to be erected. This remains to the 
present day. 

B}^ this time, mail had become a very important mat- 
ter. About 1850 the people in this community drove to 
Denton after it. Later tlieir post-office was at Federals- 
burg. There wasn't any way provided for them to get it 
only when they w^ent to town, which was not very often 
as travel was not only slow but rude in those days. To 
improve upon this method the government established a 
post-office at Smithville. After the post-office was built 
drivers were appointed to bring the mail from Feder- 

—286— 



alsburg to certain named centers as, Smithville, Concord, 
American Corner. It was delivered once about every 
two weeks, later once weekly and eventually every day. 

NABB'S. 

Xabb's school, erected in 1909, was named for T. D. 
Nabb, who was the prime mover in the enterprise, and 
,<»'ave ninch of the lot upon which the school stands. Miss 
Myrtle West was the first teacher. 

Anotlior Story of Patty Cannon. 

One day Elgin Russell, a colored boy, and his sister were out 
looking for the cows. Patty Cannon upon passing by thought this 
was a good chance to get some money, so she got out of her gig 
and caught the two children, carried them home with her and put 
them in a closet; she told them not to say a word; the people 
came in search of the children for they knew that Patty Cannon 
was kidnapping people. These people demanded Patty to give them 
the key to the closet for they had searched everywhere else but 
the closet; she told them that she had lost the key. Just at that 
moment Elgin put his finger through a knot hole in the closet; the 
people then told her that if she did not give up the key they 
would burst the door open: she gave them the key which was 
around her neok. 

Contributed by Pupils. 
CHESTNUT GROVE. 

Chestnut Grove is in the Eio'htli Election district of 
Caroline County. However it has not always been known 
as Chestnut Grove. For a lono- time it was known as 
Chestnut Woods and it is on the map now as Ao;iier. 

There are three different ,2:roups of buildings in 
Chestnut Grove: the school house, church, and store 
l)ui]dings, besides several farm houses around. The 
most important one to us children is the school house. 
Its name is Chestnut Grove School and like the place 
used to be called Chestnut Woods. It got its name from 
the many chestnut trees growing around it. The school 
was not always where it now is. At first it was on tlie 
other side of the road and while there the pupils sat on 
slab benclies. In 1874 the Board of School Commission- 
ers purchased a school site from John Lehman and 
Robert Rooks. Then the Deople around Chestnut Grove 
subscribed enougli money to build the school liousc winch 

—287— 



now stands on the Chostnnt Grove road. The building 
was put n]) in 1883 and sliows its ns^e quite a good deal. 

Tlie Methodist Episcopal church standing by the 
school house was built about 1885, by subscription. 

About thirty years ago a cani]i was held here. It 
was called Chestnut Woods Camp. 

Besides the school house, church, and store building 
there used to be also a grist mill, saw mill, and postof- 
iice, about one half mile from Chestnut Grove known 
now as Morgan's mill pond. 

Years back a certain William Morgan, for whom the 
place is now called, bought real estate and built a saw 
'inill, also adding a corn mill thereon, lie also built a 
store house and kept store for some time. After that it 
changed hands several times until at last a man by the 
name of John Agner purchased it and continued keeping 
store there. 

The mill was run by water-power and was the only 
one for miles around. All the T)eo]3le came here to mill 
and as Mr. Agner also had the ])ost office, it was of 
course quite a thriving place at one time. 

Later the mills were discontinued and the store 
moved to Chestnut Grove, the D'lstoffice. however, keep- 
ing the name of Agner until rural delivery came along. 

Contributed by Pupils. 



-288— 



HILLSBORO (Tuckahoe Bridge). 

This town located on the Tuckahoe River in Caro- 
line Connty at the ])oint where the Qneen Anne and Tal- 
bot counties meet the river on the opposite side, is on 
the site of one of the oldest settlements of the county. 

Official records show that before the year 1750, an 
E|)iscopal Chapel was located directly across the river 
from what is now Hillsboro and further that a bridge had 
also been built before this time. Located as it is in a re- 
gion conductive to good farming operations, it was only 
natural that the connnunity should have been settled 
very early. 

In those early times land was usually granted to rep- 
resentative people and families by the Lord Proprietor. 
Thus it was that John Hardcastle of Talbot county be- 
came the owner of large tracts of land in this section. 

Aside from the occasional repair and rebuilding of 
the Chapel and bridge, but little is known of the settle- 
ment which was known as Tuckahoe Bridge later called 
Hillsboro in honor of Lord Hillsboro of the Calvert Fam- 
ily, until the close of the Revolutionary War when Fran- 
cis Sellers, Esq., who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, 
had located here and married Elizabeth Downes the 
daughter of Henry Downes, who was a well known and 
influential citizen of the county of that time. 

Mr. Sellers it was who had built tlie large brick 
house still standing near the eastern terminus of the 
bridge, as well as a brick warehouse along the river near- 
by where he evidently conducted his mercantile business. 
Someone has ascertained that the bricks in these two 
buildings as well as those in the Old Academy were of the 
same type and quality, indicating that Mr. Sellers was 
active in the building of the Academy as well. With the 
natural characteristics of a Scotchman, Mr. Sellers was 
energetic and thrifty in liusiness and active in the ad- 
vancement of his community along educational and re- 
ligious lines. It seems tliat he must have amassed a con- 
siderable fortune in his business as indicated by his va- 
rious benevolences. By ancestry, likely a Presbyterian, 
it seems that he was foremost in the councils of the local 
Episcopal church. 

Whether Mr. Sellers prepared at Hillsboro the well 
known Sellers' Medical Compound that has for a long 

—289— 



time been made in Pittsbnrgh by his descendants, is not 
definitely known but it seems very likely that he did, be- 
cause of the records which show the great amount of fev- 
ers in this section at that time. In fact Mr. Sellers and 
several of his children succumbed to a fever which was 
epidemic in Hillsboro about 1804. A few years after- 
w^ards in 1816, Jesse Lee, a well known minister and 
close friend of Bishop Asbury attended a camp meeting 
near Hillsboro, was stricken with a fever and a few days 
later expired at the home of Mr. Sellers, a son of the late 
Francis Sellers. 

In 1831 the first newspaper in the county was es- 
tablished here, being printed by Lucas Bros. 

For some time Hillsboro was the site of the Tri- 
county Fair and frequently was the meeting ])lace of 
Congressional Conventions. 

A record has been found indicating that C^liarles 
Wilson Peale, one of America's greatest painters, and 
the son of Rembrandt Peale who lived for a time in 
Queen .Vnne county, resided once in or near Hillsboro. 
Thus it seems that this place must have attaino<l 
considerable prominence in religious and literary cir- 
cles, as well as having been of much commercial import- 
ance, the latter characteristic being indicated by the es- 
tablishment of a shoe factory, cannery, tobacco ware- 
liouse, tavern and one or more general stores. 

The Old IliJIshoro A carl on p. 

In 1797 a l)rick school liouse was erected in Ilillslioro, 
the land having been donated by Jolm llardcnstle, Jr., of 
Talbot County, and deeded in trust to tlie following men : 
Francis Sellers, William Smith, Valentine Green, Henry 
Nichols, of Caroline County, and Samuel Barrow of Tal- 
bot. For over seventy-five years the building remained 
on this lot known as part of ''Hackett's Garding." Pro- 
visions of the deed prove the school to have been purely 
local. In the next year plans were made for one liberal 
school in each county, and this school became known as 
Hillsboro Academy. 

Private subscriptions provided the money for the 
school building and was furnished not only by men from 
Caroline but from Queen Anne's and Talbot as well. 
Francis Sellers, a well known business man living near 
the Tuckahoe bridge, was largely responsible for the suc- 

—290— 



cess of the scliool. lit' not only made generous subscrip- 
tions to the enterprise but endowed the sehool for the 
beneiit of orphaned children. 

Tlie first board of trustees wei'e Francis Sellers, 
A\'illiani Smith, Henry Nichols ord, Samuel Barrow, Hen- 
ry Downes, William Richardson and George Martin. 
These trustees were "on the job" from the start; in fact 
the Legislature of 1806 placed the village government in 
their hands. They appointed a bailifl" to collect taxes 
which were laid upon persons who kept dogs, also fines 
imposed u])on residents who alarmed their neighbors by 
permitting their chinmey to catch fire, and fines u])on 
persons who enticed away or harbored anv of the charity 
cliildreii in charge of the teacher or Trustees. 




OLD HILLSBOROUGH ACADEMY 
Founded 179 7. 



-291- 



The course of study included the classics as well as 
the elementary subjects. In recognition of the high 
standing of the school the General Assembly of 1812 
made the school a donation of $500, which custom was 
kept up for nearly twenty years. In 1823 the following 
report was sent to the Assembly: 

One teacher. 

Five free students. 

Eight classical students. 

Nineteen students in English and Mathematics. 

Total number of pupils, 27. 

Hillsboro Academy held indis])ntable sway in Caro- 
line until 1827 when half of the State's annual donation 
was taken from it to give to the Denton Academy, not 
then erected. For a few years after this the type of 
teaching at Hillsboro was unchanged. Then came a pe- 
riod of struggle when it alternated between a private 
school and a local county school according as it enrolled 
the fifteen subscribing scholars necessary to receive the 
State donation. Later years saw the revival of interest 
in the Academy but only for a brief period. In 1878 tlie 
school was taken over by the County Board of Educa- 
tion, who replaced the old building by erecting a more 
modern two room structure for a graded school. 

Episcopal Church. 

A history of the Episcopal church will be found else- 
where in this volume under the caption — Early Churches. 

Methodism in IliUshoro and Vicinity. 

In the year 1776, the Rev. Mr. Ruff, was then preach- 
ing on what was then known as Kent Circuit. For some 
reason he was called away for a short time from his work, 
and at his request Freeborn Garretson came over to take 
his place while he was away. Garretson jireached iu 
QueeiL_Ann^_^sCVnnlXi^ii<^^ came into Cij^raline, first at 
GreensboroTTTreTrTr^rvc^ig" southward, he visited the up- 
per parts of Tuckahoe Neck near where Hillsboro now is. 
He was the first Methodist preacher the j^eople heard in 
these parts, 

Garretson says : 

"I was wandering along in search of an opening for the Word 
in deep thought and prayer that my way might be prosperous, when 
I came to a gate, where I had a sudden impression that I ought to 

090 



turn in. which I did and went up to a house and told the mistress 
who came out to meet me, that if she wanted to hear the word of 
the Lord, to send out and call her neighbors, which she did, and I 
preached that evening and the next day". 

This was at the home of the step-father of the Rev. 
Ezekiel Cooper, who was an officer in the American 
Army, and as it was a clay of great mustering, Garret- 
son, sitting on his horse, preached to the sokliers, many 
of which were com'erted and became Methodists. 

A Methodist Society was formed in the year 1776 or 
1778 and between 1780 and 1784 the first Methodist Meet- 
ing House in Caroline County was built near the Meet- 
ing-house Branch and was known as "Ebenezer Chapel." 

This was a rall,ying center for Methodists for more 
than a quarter of a century. Quarterly Conferences were 
held with Bishops Coke and Asbury ])residing. On his 
first visit to this community in 1781 Bishop Coke said, 
''The people here are the best singers I have heard in 
America." 

Several ])romiuent Alethodist itinerants came from 
tills section. Among tliem were Kzekiel Cooper, Solo- 
mon Sharp, Stephen Martindale, and Thomas Neal. 

About the year 1838 the church was moved from the 
Old Meeting-house Branch into HiUsboro, where it has 
occupied its present location ever since, and it still bears 
its original name "Elienezer. " 

From its earliest beginnings to the ])resent time 
Methodism has had a prominent place in the Religious 
life of the community, and has always helped to bear the 
burdens of the denomination. 

Contrihufcd hi/ Rev. E. W. McDowell. 



—293— 




THE HOME OF FRANCIS SELLERS. 



FRANCIS SELLERS. 



Ill the old brick mansion down tlie liill, 
Lived Francis Sellers a man of will, 
He came from Scotland far across the sea, 
And settled Hillsboro, dnnt you see? 



He was very honest, steadfast and true. 
And his fellow citizens knew it, too. 
Now as to slaves he had many (?) 
But never was known to ill treat any. 



—29 



3. 

Old Hillsboro Academy owes its origin to him. 

Which goes to show he was a man of vim; 

He donated much money to help the poor, 

And had he been richer he would have donated more. 



Miss Downes of Caroline became his wife. 
And they lived an ideal married life. 
Seven beautiful children God gave to them, 
Tw^o of which became noble men. 



5. 

In the Seller's graveyard upon the hill. 

He lies buried but we honor him still. 

We know that in Heaven he is at rest. 

His friends mourned his death but God knew best. 



Katherixe Klixe. 



THAWLEY'S. 

Oil the eastern ])aiik of tlie Tnekalioe midway be- 
tween Hillsboro and the Choptank is located a colonial 
type of house which is best known, perhaps, as the Thaw- 
ley House, but earlier as the home of Rebecca Daffiii, 
who was a sister of Charles Dickinson that fell in the 
duel with Andrew Jackson at the beo'innini? of the 19th 
century. 

A member of the well known family of Baffin of 
Dorchester county came to Caroline early and con- 
structed a very handsome residence of brick. Evidently 
no expense was spared to make this an eleg;ant home 
with laro'e rooms, hio'li ceiling's, beautiful stairways and 
elaborate mantel pieces. Tt is said tliat the o-reat cost 
practically led to the financial failure of tlie Imilder. 

Here one may easily imagine the o'oin,o;s-on of that 
period — the stately minuet, the joyous o-ame, the elabo- 
rate feast, and the exciting- Imnt and chase so much in- 
dulo'ed in in that dav, with all cares left to the disposi- 
tion of the faithful slaves that made up the household. 

The Daffin farm apparently includes the present 
Thawdey farm as well as the Clark land extendino- as far 
as Thawley's church. This tract seems to have been the 
gift of Henry Dickinson to liis daug^hter Rebecca. 

—295— 



It seems that this section was early cleared and de- 
vel()])e(l as a good farming commnnity. The mill nearby, 
known now as Knott's or Elben's mill, was standing in 
180-4- as per a plat filed in the Clerk's Oftice in Denton. 
At this time it was known as Morgan's mill and was in- 
chided in a tract of 1500 acres of land belonging to Hen- 
ry Nichols and extende<l much of the way towards Hills- 
boro. 

It seems likely that the Hillsboro school served for 
this commnnity nntil abont 1870 when a local building 
was erected. This was burned about 1885 when the pres- 
ent one was erected on land purchased of J. W. Clark. 

TUCKAHOE NECK. 

This section of Caroline County lying between the 
Choptank and Tuckahoe rivers and the main road lead- 
ing from Denton to Hillsboro has for a long time been 
almost as well known by name and re]nitation to the in- 
habitants of Maryland and Delaware as the famous 
''blue grass region" of Kentucky. 

Endowed by nature with two crowning attributes — 
location along the river and fertility of soil, it is of lit- 
tle wonder that this section early attracted settlers from 
other counties. Until about 15 years ago, this region 
was inhabited almost entirely by the land owners them- 
selves, a situation which meant that the buildings and 
fences were in first class condition, and the land in a, 
high state of cultivation. Travellers from other coun- 
ties to Caroline County at that time would not easily 
miss a trip of inspection to this beautiful section. Some 
of the most important families of the county and state 
have lived at one time or another in Tuckahoe Neck. 
Joshua Clark, one of the largest landowners, and one of 
the county's earliest court justices, lived during the Eev- 
olutionary War period at Lyford, an estate even well 
known at the present day. Later on John M. Eobinson 
who became a distinguished jurist in this state was born 
and raised in Tuckahoe Neck. Suffice it to say that sev- 
eral worthies liave come from this section. 

It seems tliat the earliest inhabitants of this neigh- 
borliood either attended the Quaker meeting near Den- 
ton or went to Tuckahoe Cliay)el which was located near 
Hillsboro. 

—296— 



In 1842 Isaac Harris then a prominent resident of 
tlii.s section deeded to Edward Carpenter, James Nicli- 
ols, George AV. Wilson, William Williams, John Nichols, 
Benjamin Atwell and William Cade, trustees, land to be 
used as the site of a church which was established under 
the ]\Iethodist Episco])al control. Thus the name of Har- 
ris Chapel most likely originated. It was provided in 
the deed that in case of a vacancy among the trustees 
the remaining ones should fill the vacancy provided the 
applicant be at least 21 years of age and a member of 
the church for at least one vear previous. For a long 
time this church was served bv ministers from Denton, 
but for the past 20 years from Hillsboro. At present, 
service is conducted iDy the Southern Methodist minister 
at Queen Anne. 

Owing to there being a large pond nearby where 
wild geese on their annual trip south formerly alighted 
for food and rest, this church, the school nearby and in 
fact the general section has long been known as Goose- 
pond. 

The earliest school for this section of which we have 
any record was located near the junction of the road to 
Lyford with the Tuckahoe Neck road. Z. P. Steele, 
Esq.. of Denton, recalls having attended this school and 
perhaps, as a very small boy, to have seen the original 
school building which seems to have been constructed of 
logs. Because of the crowded condition of this school in 
1870, the School Board apnointed a committee consist- 
ing of James B. Steele. G. W. Collison, and Edward 
Saulsbury to consider the advisability of dividing the 
school district. Their report was favorably accepted 
by the Board and Upper Tuckahoe and Lower Tuckahoe 
districts were formed. Since this time public schools 
have been maintained in these two districts — the one 
Saulsbury 's in honor of Edward Saulsbury — the other 
Cedar Grove because of its being surrounded by a grove 
of cedars. In ]885 an exchange of sites was made by 
means of which Cedar Grove school acquired a lot of two 
acres. 



-297— 




—298— 



RIDGELY. 



The Founding. 

Ridgely did not happen into existence like the typi- 
ical cross-roads settlements which s^radually extend 
along' the tnrnino- highway nntil they snddenly discover 
themselves to be full fledged villages or towns. Ridgely 
was fnlly conceived and definitely planned before one 
building was erected on its site. 




RIDGELY'S FIRST HOUSE, OCCUPIED BY MR. FRED RIDGELY 
AND FAMILY. RECENTLY TORN DOWN. 



When the Eastern Shore of Maryland was under- 
going a transformation because of the approach of rail- 
roads, a body of men from Philadelphia heard the call of 
the city and under the name of the Maryland and Balti- 
more Land Association, started forth with the dream of 
planting a city on the site of our present town, which 
should unite the Maryland and Delaware Railroad and 
the Choptank River. Without the cooperation of Rev- 
erend Greenbury W. Ridgely and Mr. Thomas Bell, the 
Maryland and Baltimore City LandAssociation could 
not have caried out its plans. The general understand- 
ing is that Messrs. J. R. Renzor, Thomas C. Hambly and 

—299— 



George N. Towiisend, the threie important men constitut- 
ing the Association, were friends of Rev. Greenbury W. 
Eidgely and tlirongh his k^rge land interests at this point 
and their common interests in the constrnction of the 
Queenstown and Harrington Railroad, these three men 
were drawn to this community. Under the circumstanc- 
es, it was natural that the Reverend Mr. Ridgely should 
give them his hearty cooperation in their city building 
project, and that they should reciprocate by naming the 
city in his honor. After the negotiation of the Land As- 
sociation with Mr. Ridgely and Mr. Bell, in which they 
secured the use of the Ridgely and Bell farming hiiids 
for the promotion of their town and city scheme, they 
made their survey of Ridgely. Mr. Sisler, a Philadel- 
phia civil engineer, was employed by them for this spec- 
ial part of the work. He was assisted by Mr. Theophilus 
W. Smith, then a young num living at his father's home 
farm, near the prospective town. They surveyed not 
less than two hundred acres lying within and around the 
town. 

This whole survey resulted in the production of a 
most interesting map of Ridgely, showing the beautiful 
streets and avenues planned. Copies of this were used 
freely in attracting settlers to the contemplated city. 
The dream city, founded May 13, 1867, was born too 
early in this section of the state to become a reality, and 
it soon died. The reason for this was that the financial 
resources of the Company were not sufficient to enable 
them to accomplish their great undertaking. As the 
summer advanced, signs of this were much in evidence. 
Unpaid bills were accumulating and dissatisfaction was 
heard from lumber dealers, builders, painters, and day 
laborers. The city that had been started vanished with 
only a few buildings and a map left behind to record 
the unrealized dream. 

After the failure of the Maryland and Baltimore 
Land Association, the real estate firm of Mancha Broth- 
ers united its activities in promising the growth of 
Ridgely; but for the first decade the most apparent 
growth lay outside the boundaries of the village. New 
settlers bought farms in the surrounding country where 
land was plentiful and cheap, and thus gradually the 
agricultural interests outside the hamlet and the com- 
mercial interests within, developed Ridgely into the busy 
railroad center it has increasingly become throughout 

—300— 



its fifty years or more of history. Faith in the railroad 
was the i;ieat factor in holdiiii;' liid^vly to,i»"ether and in 
proiiiotiiii!,' its i^'rowth. 

The following- are some of the earliest settlers in 
Ridgely, — James K. Sanlslniry, a merchant; J. Fi'ank 
Maneha, and Henry S. Mancha, real estate agents, who 
were instnimeidal in hi-inging northern settlers into this 
commnnity: Sylvt'ster Smith, who established a frnit 
evaporating indnstry, and James Swann, Ridgely's first 
teaclier and later Snperintendent of Schools of Caroline 
Conntv. Other early settlers were Isaac J. Sigler, John 
A. Sigler, and Thomas W. Jones, Sr. 




REV. GREEXBURY W. RIDGELY. 



-301- 



Life of tiie Reverend Mr. Ridgely. 

The Reverend Greenbury W. Ridgely, in wliose hon- 
or the town of Ridgely was named, was born in Lexing- 
ton, Kentncky, May 12, 1798. He attended the Transyl- 
vanian I'^niversity, from which he was graduated, with 
honor. He then attended the law school at Litchfield, 
Conn., where he formed a life-long friendship with John 
M. Clayton, of Delaware. On Mr. Ridgely 's return trip 
to T^exingtou he visited the families of his uncles, Judge 
Richard and Henry Ridgely of the AVestern Shore. Here 
he was induced to remain and study law. After passing 
a successfuul examination, he became a member of the 
bar of this state. After a brief period of legal practice 
in partnershi]) with Henry Clay, Mr. Ridgely decided to 
enter the ministry of the Protestant E])iscopal Church, 
and witli this idea he entered the Theological Seminary 
at Princeton, from whicli in tlie course of time he was 
graduated. 

While rector at Newtown he married Miss AVorth, 
of that place. His wife died in 18-1-1 and shortly after- 
ward Mr. Ridgely became rector at Chester, Pennsylva- 
nia. While at this place lie gradually extended his min- 
isterial work in building up new churches in the vicinity. 
The churches at Marcus Hook and Claymont were the 
outgrowth of his labors. In 1858 Mr. Ridgely came to 
the Eastern Shore of Alaryland to live. He settled in 
Caroline County where he made large investments in 
real estate, purchasing from four to five thousand acres 
of land. Althougli he was not assigned to any parish, 
he constantly held services at places which were desti- 
tute of churches. His last years were spent near our 
town at the residence of his son, William S. Ridgely. In 
August, 1893, Mr. Ridgely suffered a stroke of paralysis 
from which he rallied ; but a second attack shortly after- 
ward caused his death. He lies buried in the E])isco])al 
churchyard at Hillsboro. He left three children, none 
of whom are living today. His second son, William S. 
Ridgely, was for many years one of the most ])rominent 
citizens of Caroline Count}^ 



—302- 




-303- 



Life of Mr. Thomas Bell. 

One of the leading men in this section of Caroline 
County at the time of the founding of Ridgely in 1867, 
was Mr. Thomas Bell. Mr. Bell was a large land owner 
with an attractive home near the proposed city; there- 
fore it was natural that he should play an important 
part in the city's inauguration. Since his land joined 
the extensive holdings of Mr. Ridgely, he agreed to unite 
with him in selling enough property to enable the Land 
Association to carry forward its city scheme. By this 
agreement it fell to Mr. Bell to give the right of way at 
this point for the Maryland and Delaware Railroad, in 
its extension from Greensboro to Oxford. It also fell 
to his lot to provide sites for the railroad station and 
hotel built by the Land Association. Thus, in a very 
real sense, Mr. Bell started the town on its way. But 
the item of greatest interest that has to do with his 
share in the founding of Ridgely, is that he suggested, 
in the sale of lots, that if any ardent spirits were ever 
made or sold upon the premises, the owner of the lot 
should forfeit it witli all its improvements to the parties 
from whom it was purchased ; thus the town of Ridgely 
has been blessed throughout its years in being number- 
ed among the ranks of the "dry." 

Early Conditions. 

The early conditions of Ridgely, as far as schools 
and churches were concerned, were poor, the settlers 
having had to go to Boonsboro for both. The first school 
of Ridgely was built in 1872 and was called "Sedge 
Field Academy." This was a one roomed school of 
which Mr. Swann was the first teacher. It is said tliat 
this was the first school in the county to liave desks built 
with reference to the size of the pupils. This one-roomed 
building is now a part of a dwelling on Second Street. 
Church services were lield in the scliool house until 1877, 
when the Methodist Church at Boonsboro was taken 
down and rebuilt on the site of the present Methodist 
Church, the land being given by Mr. Ridgely. 

Addition of Churches. 

As time passed and Ridgely grew in po])ulation, 
more churches were added and better buildings planned. 
Tlie second church in Ridgely was St. Paul's Reformed 

—304— 



Cliiu'cli built ill 1880, Mr. Haiiiiebury liavino- been its 
founder and first minister. Later this church was re- 
modeled. In 1895 the present Methodist Church was 
built, the former house of worship haviui? been moved 
back on Maple Avenue to become a dwelling. Then came 
the Catholic Church in 1896, the Brethren in 1898, the 
Baptist in 1909, and tlie Dunkard the same year. 

Development of Schools. 

Just as many churches were added, so school con- 
ditions improved with population. The little one-room- 
ed school was found inadequate; hence in 1888 the pres- 
ent Primary School was started. It, at first, had but 
two rooms, gradually three more were added. In 1910 
tliis became a high school. After much careful consid- 
eration in keei)iiig with the advancement along indus- 
trial and commercial lines, a delegation of representa- 
tive citizens of Ridgely met the County School Board at 
Denton during April 1910, for the purpose of discussing 
plans relative to the establishment of an agricultural 
high school in their community. Courses in agriculture, 
chemistry, animal husbandry, and manual training hav- 
ing been added to the school curriculum, and many pup- 
ils having come in from the surrounding country to avail 
themselves of the privilege of them and of a high school 
training, it was pointed out how necessary it was to have 
a well equipped modern building in which to teach these 
practical subjects. Due to the untiring efforts of such 
men as W. W. Seward, Hon. T. A. Smith and others, 
the money necessary for such a building was pledged 
and a tract of land was secured which would provide a 
convenient and suitable site for the school as well as fur- 
nish types of soil for a successful demonstration farm. 
It was hoped that the State would eventually become in- 
terested in starting an Eastern Shore Experimental Sta- 
tion here. The school building was completed July 1912 
and formallv opened with appropriate exercises Sep- 
tember 12, 1912. 

The State Farm. 

At the request of the Caroline County School Board 
there was introduced into the Legislature in the session 
of 1914 a bill to transfer fifty acres of tlie land purchased 
for the Ridgely Agricultural High School to tlie Mary- 

—305— 



land Aorieiiltiiral College; this passed and the State re- 
imbursed the Caroline County Board for the amount 
which the farm had cost them. The farm has been used 
largely to supplement the investigations being conduct- 
ed at the Maryland State College so as to check up re- 
sults and make them applicable to Eastern Shore soil 
and climatic conditions. 




front view of the great armour plant at ridgely. 

Industries. 

On account of Ridgely's many industries the ]jo])u- 
lation greatly increased. The Armour Plant, one of tlie 
largest strawberry preserving factories in the world, 
was located here because it seemed the most favorable 
region from which to secure large yields of this fruit. 
However many carloads are also purchased and shipped 
in from other states to be preserved here. This plant 
employs a thousand people during the strawberry sea- 
son, the majority of whom are foreigners. The company 
has settlements of its own where foreign help is housed. 
Everything about the settlement and building is ke])t in 
a thoroughly ai)])roved sanitary condition. 

Swing & Company's Factory is one of the leading- 
canning enterprises of the kind in the county. This fac- 
tory packs tomatoes exclusively, using the yield from 
three or four hundred acres of ground. In connection 
with this. Swing & Co. have a l)asket factory which has 



—306- 



gained a reputation tlironglioiit Maryland and New Jer- 
sey. Millions of baskets, crates, and strawberry cups 
are manufactured, thus giving; permanent employment 
to many. 

The Sanlsbury Brothers also own and operate a 
large canning factory here, putting u]j tomatoes, corn, 
and peas. A large acreage of these crops is put in each 
year to supply this factory. Foreign as well as local 
help is employed. 

Summit Poultry Farm. 

The Summit Poultry Farm of Holsinger & Son cov- 
ers sixteen acres, being one of the largest in the East. 
It has a hatching capacity of 17,000 eggs and as many 
as 7000 day-old chicks are shipped daily to different 
parts of the United States. Eggs and chicks of frying 
size are also shi]iped. 







Improvements. 

During Ridgely's later years many improvements 
have been made, chief among which are : 

A water works system having a capacity of 65,000 
gallons ; 

A town sewerage system with a sewerage disposal 
plant. 

—307— 




—308— 



A tii'o (le])ai'ii)UMit well ('(iiii])])(Ml with a power house 
and ])iinipiii,<i' station. 

A library with a si^leiidid collection of books. 

Compiled from the History of Miss Emma Graut Sauls- 
bury and others l)y the Teachers and Pupils of the 
Ridsrelv School. 



FURMAN'S GROVE. 

Furman's Grove, better known as Jumptown, was 
one of the earliest settled portions of the county. When 
the county was formed, the Tuckahoe had been danmied 
and a mill near the present Grouse mill, was then in op- 
eration. This was considerably before 1800. 

The Bradleys were prominent residents in this sec- 
tion in those long ago times and in fact influential in the 
county. Their burying" ground is on the Starkey farm 
across from the school. On some of the rough stones 
may be deci])']iered the names or initials of some of these 
early people. 

Bradleysburg was (juite a thriving hamlet at this 
time doubtless. Tliis nanu' evidently continued long af- 
ter the settlement ceased to be, for a county map made 
in 1875 by J. B. Isler locates this place. 

Following the Bradley family in the neighborhood 
came the Jumps, one of the earliest and best known of 
wliom was Abraham Jump, also a prominent citizen in 
the county in his time. He is buried near the Brickyard 
below Ridgely. Josiah Juni]) was at one time clerk of 
the Circuit Court for Caroline County. 

Later on a family by the name of Starkey acquired 
nearly all the land in this section. 

Several families of German peo])le came from Bal- 
timore and Pennsylvania and settled not far from where 
Jumptown church now stands. The houses were built 
in the meadow near the east side of the branch on what 
is noAv Mr. M. C. Smith's farm. The settlement was 
named Germantown on account of the nationality of its 
settlers. The houses were all made of logs thatched with 
mud. One house was built ))artly in tlie l)ank of the 
stream. 

The names of some of the settlers of Germantown 
were: J. R. T^ynch, Otto Gephart, Old Christina, John 

— H09— 



Eeinliart, known as Dntcli John, and a family of 
Kierschs. 

The industries of the German people were basket, 
cigar, syrnp, and cider makino;. The tobacco for the 
cigars was not grown here. It was shipped here from 
the south. The tobacco factory was owned by Otto Gep- 
hart. Tt was a part of his home. The wdiole family 
helped make the cigars. They were then peddled around 
the country. 

Willows for the basket making were grown on sev- 
eral acres of land in the meadows. When they were the 
right height these were cut and stripped of their bark. 
Then they were sent away to be sold. An old woman, 
usually called "Old Christina," made very beautiful 
baskets out of some lighter material. It was probably 
a sort of straw. 

The original church in this section was built at a 
very early period, judging from some old records. Start- 
ed as a Methodist church and continued as such for sev- 
eral generations, at one time the Holiness society wor- 
shipped within its walls, then again the Methodist took 
charge and now for several years the Baptist denomina- 
tion has been in control, the minister living in Ridgely. 
The present name of Jumptown has clung to the church 
because of the aid and support once given by Abraham 
Jump and his family. 

A school was early established in this section also, 
though the earliest official record of same was made in 
ISfi,") at Avhich time trustees were appointed by the Coun- 
ty School Board. 

About 1888 the name of this school was changed to 
Furman's Grove for a Mr. Furman who donated land for 
a site. A new linilding was later erected. 

Contributed hv the School. 



—310— 



THE PLAINS. 

The family connection of Mrs. Bourne, the former 
owner of the above named estate, was perhaps among- 
the most noted of the IMaryland aristocrats. Her father, 
Isaac Purnell, was a typical southern gentleman and 
married a dangliter of Benjamin Sylvester, a large land 
holder in ante-bellum times. The Purnell family was 
very wealthy and maintained all the social customs of 
the old Dominion aristocracy. Slaves, about 75 in num- 
ber, were housed in a row of small shanties near the 
mansion. The master of the plantation was very liberal 
to the poor, but he had many eccentricities; among which 
was a dignity and reserve maintained towards his com- 
monplace neighbors. When driving about the country 
his coachman and footman were dressed in livery, and 
four coal black horses in silver mounted harness were 
attached to the family coacli. The late Mrs. Bourne, 
when Miss Mary Purnell, inherited "The Plains" at the 
death of her grandfather, Mr. Sylvester, The heiress 
was twice married; her first husband was Allan Thorn- 
dyke. Mr, Bourne, her last husband, was very wealtliy 
and at his death tlie widow ihlierited several millions to 
add to her already large possessions. Mrs. Bourne died 
at Newport in 1881 leaving property estimated at ten 
million dollars to her children and grandchildren. For 
many years prior to her demise Mrs. Bourne made an 
occasional visit to her estate in this county, though nev- 
er residing here for anv length of time. Much of her 
time was probably spent in Europe. She expended prob- 
ably one-fourth of a million dollars on "The Plains" es- 
tate and her various possessions in all amounted to sev- 
eral thousand acres of the county's choicest land. 

Social life surely had a golden era at this Eden of 
the Eastern Shore, of which many unique anecdotes are 
extant. One in particular is as amusing as it is unique. 
A certain member of this ancestral familv was passion- 
ately fond of sleighing. A longing for this sport seized 
him at an inopportune season of the year — July. Then, 
as noAv, artificial means were resorted to, as this incident 
goes to prove. A supply of salt was procured to cover 
the mile-lane drive. Let us hope that our iin])nlsive 
sportsman enjoyed the jingle of tlie sleigh bells, since he 
could not the snow breeze, wliich would be a boon in such 
a scorching month. To question the veracity of this an- 

—311— 



ecdote would bring one back again to "Mother Goose" 
and "Fairy Tale" days. However, it goes to prove that 
money was not wanting at the Bourne Manor during 
those days when Maryland's proverbial hospitality had 
been amicably partaken of at The Plains. 

In the course of events Providence ordained other 
scenes to be enacted on this same eventful stage in which 
society once held so prominent a part. In the year 1887 
a community of ascetic women, known as Benedictine 
Sisters, purchased this "Paradise of the Plains" from 
Allen Thorndyke Rice, ci-devant editor of the Noiih 
Anherlcau Bevh'W. The property consists of five hun- 
dred and fifty acres of arable and two hundred acres 
of timber land. It is situated in the heart of the farm- 
ing region of the Eastern Peninsula. The elaborate 
l)uihliiigs were erected by Mrs. M. M. Bourne, grand- 
mother of Mr. Rice, and cost over one hundred and twen- 
ty-five thousand dollars. The building material was of 
the finest. Modern critics say that it could not be purch- 
ased iu our (lay at any cost. The workmanship, too, has 
stood tlie wear and tear of time, for the buildings seem 
a-; su))staiit:al now as if they were of modern construc- 
tion. 

Tile Convent and Academy, St. (Jertrude's were in- 
corporated in the year 1896, under the laws of the State 
of Maryland. The Mother House of this community is lo- 
cated in Newark, New Jersey, where a large branch 
house is established, with two others in Wilmington, Del- 
aware. 

A'dii.^ of Sf. Gcrtnidc's Acddcmji. Harmonious edu- 
cation, while providing sound mental and moral train- 
ing, must not endanger the o-rowth of the body. Of all 
places a boarding school in the country is a place to as- 
sist the development of the bodv. The country air is 
stimulating, and has health giving properties that are 
lackiuii,' in most city schools, whose environments are 
usually limited. 

Catholic ])u])ils are given a course of instruction in 
their religion, but no undue influence is exercised over 
the minds of non-Catholics. For maintenance of order, 
all are obliged to conform to the external religious ex- 
ercises of the institution. 

Sfiidif's. The Academy has four departments: Pri- 
mary, Clrammar, Commercial, and Academic. The 
bi'auclies taught in these departments embrace all that is 

—312— 




NEW BUILDING AT THE PLAINS. 



necessary for a tlioroui^li and practical education. Tliese 
courses afford all the advanta.^es of a modern liigli 
scliool. The chihlren's department comprises seven 
years; namely, fonr ])rimarv trades, one year each, and 
tlie Jnnior, Grammar and Pre|)aratory chisses, one year 
each. 

^irf. Art is now rec(\i;nized as one of tlie essentials 
of a refined education. Hence, snecial attention, under 
a competent teacher, is given to tliis study. Music and 
drawing- are also made a specialty. 

Domestic Science. ''Cooking is an art; a noble 
science." Lectures and experimental lessons in cook- 
ing and baking are given to the students who arc inter- 
ested in home economy. 

Domestic Art. Every style is taught — botli ])lain 
and ornamental — from the cutting out and making of a 
simple wearing aDparel, to the designing and embroid- 
ering an elaborate sliirt waist, center ])iece, etc. 



-. ) 1 o — 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 



While Caroline county furnished no complete com- 
panies to the late (1898) War with Spain, her younger 
men were active and ea,2,'er to engage in behalf of their 
country and enlisted a score or two of them in outside 
divisions. 

We have been able to secure thus far only the names 
of the following persons who participated, bu't it is safe 
to say that other names could liave been added : 

Robert S. Garey, of Denton, served with a Balti- 
more regiment; Charles G. Griffin with the New York 
National Guai\l, later the gallant Seventy-first; Clayton 
Blackison was on the Battleship Indiana; H. B. and R. 
W. Messenger of Federalsburg, were included in the 5th 
Maryland Regiment; G. H. Jefferson and Thomas S. 
Kemp, of Federalsburg, enlisted in a Pennsylvania reg- 
iment; Ira Cannon, Fulton Noble of Preston, Jas. F. 
Wallace, Wm. C. Dean, and Milton Tull of Bethlehem, 
Harvey Jump and S. J. Sneed of Hillsboro enlisted with 
a Talbot county company; Thomas Heather, Bernard 
Hutchins, and John Shewbrooks of Marydel, enlisted in 
Company M. Delaware regiment; R. Earle Fisher was 
with the 5tli Maryland which went to Tampa. Charles 
and Frank McShane of Denton and Wm. Rumbold of 
Choptank also enlisted. 

While some of our boys did not get into the lines of 
battle, perhaps, they suffered even worse in some of the 
hot, yellow fever regions, eating "embalmed meat" so 
much spoken of at the time. 

The following local newspa])er account will serve to 
show tlie nature of the charges of one regiment which 
lost nearly all of its men in the terrible campaign: 

'•Mr. Charles G. Griffin of the 71st New York Regiment is 
spending part of the eixty days' furlough in Caroline. At the ex- 
piration of this furlough the regiment will be mustered out of 
service. Mr. Griffin is still suffering from the effect of Yellow fever 
which seized him, with hundreds of others, while they were in camp 

—314— 



after the battle of Santiago. At that great combat Mr. Griffin's 
regiment made a memorable rush upon the Spanish breast-works 
up a hill in front O'f the city and drove the dons from their trench- 
es. .Many of the Americans were killed but Mr. Griffin escaped 
without injury. When the top of the hill had been gained many 
dead Spaniards were found. The charge was a desperate one but 
Mr. Griffin explained it had to be made because our men were un- 
der fire and did not propose to stay at the foot of the hill and take 
it; consequently without orders tliey made the dash. In doing 
so they were protected by gattling guns, which poured a steady 
stream of lead along the top of the hill. Had any Americans been 
without guns most of them would doubtless, have been killed be- 
fore the top was reached." 



—315- 



COUNTY NEWSPAPERS. 
Early Papers. 

The earliest newspaper in the connty was printed 
at Hillsboro in 1831 by Tjacas Bros. Its name was the 
CaroUnc InfplUgower. It seems only natnral that the 
first ]iaper should have been started at Hillsboro, for two 
reasons: 1, It is one of the oldest towns of the county 
and probably the one best developed during that period; 
2, Hillsl)oro being the seat of the Old Academy it may 
be readily assumed that more letters and culture pre- 
vailed there at the time. 

Shortly afterwards, a paper was started at Denton. 
It was called the Caroline Advocate and was published 
from 1835 to 1837 by Henry Vanderford. who later re- 
moved to Westminster and became one of the best known 
editors of Maryland. Judge Carmichael, then a rising 
attorney at Centreville, upon visiting Denton, persuad- 
ed Vanderform to remove his ])rinting establishment to 
Centreville. Thus Denton was left without a paper. 

Another early Denton newspaper, The Pearl, wdiich 
appeared in September of 184-0, during the administra- 
tion of Martin Van Buren, was ]nd)iLslied by ^Ir. John H. 
Emerson. It was jorinted for sometime in Centreville. 
Later when the paper had shown that it would pay, Mr. 
Emerson purchased a horse tread press, and printed his 
paper in Denton. It was issued weekly at the price of 
two dollars a year; one dollar of which had to be paid 
upon the receipt of the first issue, the other dollar due 
at the end of the year. 

Mr. William Stewart has an issue of TJie Pearl 
printed January 19, 1841. The paper is given largely to 
advertisements, among which are Joseph Evitts, Gen- 
eral merchandise; Charles W. Smith, Coach, Gig, and 
Harness. The Union Hotel advertises its bar where the 
choicest liquors might be obtained. A Baltimore shoe 
sliop advertises a "pair of the handsomest slippers ever 
made," for one dollar shinplaster. Reference was made 
to the financial distress of the day including the failing 
of the Franklin Bank of Baltimore. 

The American Union of today is really the successor 
of the old Pearl. 

—316— 



Federalsburg Courier. 

On February 7, 1872, the first number of what is now 
called the FederaJshwg Courier was issued. It was 
started under the name of the Maryland Courier and 
published by George D. Baker, who moved here from 
Stamford, Conn. Mr. Baker did the practical part of 
publishins^ it, assisted by Thomas H. Chambers, in the 
capacity of "devil." Mr. Baker published it for a])Out 
three years when he disposed of it to James Powers, 
who in turn sold it to Dr. W. D. Noble a few years later. 
In 1879 Thomas H. Chambers purchased it of Dr. Noble, 
and continued it until 1885 when he sold it to Heffron 
Bros., who published it until 1890, when it passed to H. 
P. Chambers, who continued it up until the time of his 
death in October 1897. Under the ownership of H. P. 
Cliambors it was printed by J. W. Stowell, who took 
over the publication at that time and has continued it 
without any changes since. The present publisher serv- 
ed liis apprenticeship under Heffron Bros, from 1887 to 
1890 and since then has been connected with The Cou- 
rier in some capacity, either as "devil," compositor, 
printer or publisher. The Courier started out as a 4- 
page, 6-column paper, and under Heffron Bros, it was 
increased to a 7-column ])aper. In 1910 it was again in- 
creased to an 8-column 4-page size and in 1913 to an 8- 
column 8-page size, in which form it is at present pub- 
lilised. 

The Courier was started as a non-partisan paper. 
Under Heffron Bros, it was published as a prohibition 
organ, and under H. P. Chambers in the interest of the 
Democratic party. At present it is an independent paper. 

The Caroline Sun. 

The Caroline Sun, ]3ublished at Ridgelv, was estab- 
lished March 15th, 1902, by Dr. W. W. Goldsborough, 
now a leading practitioner at Greensboro. Dr. Golds- 
borough knew but little about the publishing business, 
and in September, 1902, sold his interests in the paper 
to Mr. L. R. Beauchamp and Mr. Henry Wilkinson. Six 
months thereafter Mr. Beauchamp decided there were 
other wider fields of labor for him, and as a consequence 
he sold his interest to Mr. Wilkinson, the paper's ])res- 
ent pu])lis]ier and editor. The Caroli)he Shu is an 8- 

—317— 



page, all home print newspaper. The office is eqnipped 
with all modern machinery, inclnding a two-magazine 
linotype machine, with four faces of type at command 
within ten seconds. These machines are very costly and 
will do the work of five men. The Sim is recognized as 
one of the leading newspapers of the Eastern Shore. 
Established under difficulties, the paper has gradually 
won its way to the front, and now boasts of 1500 sub- 
scribers, something unusual for a county paper ]jub- 
lished in an inland town. Mr. Wilkinson, who came to 
town with the first issue of the ]japer, was born in Caro- 
line County, and began his newspaper career in the office 
of the American Union at Denton twenty-eight years 
ago. He has had wide experience in the publishing bus- 
iness, and ranks among the foremost printers in Mary- 
land. 

The Enterprise. 

The Greensboro Enterprise was established in 
Maich 1915 and is now a solid business paying good 
dividends. 

From March, 1915 to June 20, 1918, the plant which 
now jjrints the Enterprise was simplv a job office and 
was named "The Model Printery." ' Mr. W. Thomas 
Thornton, the owner, editor and publisher of the paper 
was and is sole owner of the plant. The job business 
was such a success, that the idea of establishing a paper 
soon became lodged in Mr. Thornton's mind, and while 
he knew he was taking chances he went to work and is- 
sued The Enterprise. The venture was a success from 
the outset, the people of this section of the county feel- 
ing the need of a good home paper at once supporting 
the new publication. 

Thornton is a Greensboro boj^, born and reared, and 
learned his trade and served his time on the Free Press, 
formerW the organ published here, and for a long time 
Mr. Thornton did the bulk of the work connected with 
the job office and the paper himself. After getting on 
his feet, so to speak, with the business, or getting it to 
the place where it payed Mr. Thornton was able to hire 
lielp, and since that time has had his brother, Mr. Wal- 
lace Thornton, helping in the work. 

The paper is published on Thursdays and is a neat 
folio of six columns, full of interesting local and general 

—318— 



news matter and is neatly gotten up and printed. The 
politics of the paper is Democratic. 

The plant is rapidly assuming up-to-date propor- 
tions. The office is equipped with a cylinder newspaper 
press and there is also job machinery,' all of which is run 
by electricity. 



—319— 



THE WORLD WAR. 



Why The United States Entered the World War, 

The outbreak of the World War, in August, 1914, 
came as a terrible shock to the world, especially to the 
United States. From the beginning of the struggle, the 
sympathies of the majority of Americans were with the 
Triple Entente. The atrocities and outrages committed 
by the Germans together with the violation of Belgium's 
neutrality and international laws only added to tliis 
feeling. 

Germany immediately began her terrible submarine 
warfare upon merchant vessels, which greatly affected 
American lives and property. She, also, proclaimed on 
February 4, 1915, a war zone extending around the en- 
tire British Isles warning all enemy merchant vessels 
to keep out of this area. On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania 
was sunk without warning. ()f the 1153 souls, who per- 
ished, 11-1 were American men, women, and children. 
Immediately following this, the liner, Arabic, w^as tor- 
pedoed. Several persons lost their lives, among whom 
were two American citizens. 

These two incidents brought matters to a crisis, and 
the United States was kept out of war only by Ger- 
many's solemn promise to modify her radical policy. 
But in March, 1916, the passenger steamer, Sussex, was 
sunk without warning. A few American citizens were 
either killed or injured. The German government, im- 
mediately, disclaimed all guilt, stating that this conduct 
was contrary to official orders, which ruse succeeded in 
quieting the tumult to some extent. 

Another cause for trouble was the spreading of Ger 
man propaganda and attempts at murder and destruc- 
tion of property not only in the United States but all 
over the Americas, by German spies and secret service 
agents, among whom were the attaches of the German 
Embassy at Washington and the Austrian ambassador. 
Among these intrigues was the "Zimmerman Note" 
which was brought to light by United States secret ser- 
vice men on March 1, 1917. It disclosed a plot originat- 
ed by Germany in which Japan and Mexico were to de- 
clare war on the United States and as a reward were to 
receive large slices of our southwestern states. Prom 

—320— 



this difeclc suit' it was easy enough to prove that Ger- 
mauy had been at least partly responsible for our trouble 
with Mexico in 1916. 

On February 1, 1917, Germany threw all caution to 
tlie winds and announced that she would adopt the meth- 
od of unrestricted submarine warfare. After much dis- 
cussion and deliberation President Wilson appeared be- 
fore both Houses of Congress on April 2, 1917, and urg- 
ed that: 

"Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable, when the peace 
of the world is involved, and the freedom of its peoples, and when 
the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of 
autocratic governments backed by organized force which is con- 
trolled wholly by their will, not the will of their people." 

Accordingly, April 5, Congress finally declared that 
a state of war existed between the United States and 
Germany as indicated in the following resolution: 

RESOLVED, That the state of war between the United States 
and the Imperial German Government which has been thrust upon 
the United States is hereby formally declared: and that the Presi- 
dent be. and he is hereby authorized and directed to employ the 
entire naval and military forces of the United States and the re- 
sources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial 
German Government, and to bring the conflict to a successful term- 
ination; all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by 
the Congress of the United States. 

The Dkaft and Draft Boards. 

During the extra session of Congress called by 
President AVilson in 1917, a bill was passed providing for 
the drafting of men for the army, marine corps, navy, 
and other lines of service. The bill became a law on 
May 18. The call for volunteers immediately followed 
the declaration of war, was admirably responded to. but 
even so the number of men Avas not sufficient for the 
need. For this reason the Selective Draft Law was 
passed. 

This law ])rovided for the establishing of Local and 
District or Api)eal Boards to take charge of the draft. 
For tiiis purpose the United States was divided into dis- 
tricts, each state consisting of one or more districts, ac- 
cording to its size. ^laryland was divided into three 
districts of which tlie Eastern Sliore com])osed the tliird. 
The members of the Appeal Board in this district were 
Judge W. Laird Henry, Chairman; Harry A. Roe, Sec- 
retary; Curtis E. Crane, Charles F. Rich, and Dr. J. 
]\lacFadden Dick, witli lieadquarters at Denton. These 

—321— 



men were appointed by the Governor and were under 
tlie control of the Adjutant General of the State, who 
was un(ier the Adjutant General of the United States. 

The district was com]josed of smaller divisions, each 
county l;eing' one division with a Local Board at the 
head. The members of the Local Board for Caroline 
County, were L. B. Towers, Chairman; Dr. H. W. B. 
Eowe, and Josiah Beck, with headquarters at Denton. 
Li addition to these boards there was an advisory board 
appointed to give any leii,al advice needed. The mem- 
bers of this board were Harvey L. Cooper, Chairman; 
T. Alan Goldsborough, Frederick R. Owens. 

Under the bill all men between the ages of 21 and 
31 were compelled to register at their respective voting 
places. The names were then sent to the Local Board 
of the county and each one numbered. They were then 
sent to Annapolis and from there to National Head- 
quarters at Washington. Here each number was put in 
a cajDsule and then in large containers to be drawn from. 
Government clerks, blindfolded, drew the numbers and 
the men were called in the order in which they were 
drawn. Every man was notified as to Avhich was his 
number and when to re])ort for examination. By this 
method of selecting the men, it was done im])artially 
and they were called into service according as their num- 
bers were drawn. ( )f course, many of them were exempt 
from service, and this was attended to by the Local 
Boar(]s of the counties. Questionaires were sent out to 
the men, which they were to fill out and return. Many 
of the men were exempt on account of physical disabili- 
ties but many claimed exeni])tion for otlier reasons. The 
Local Board decided whether or not a man was to be 
exempt. Anyone not satisfied with the decision of the 
board could appeal to the District Board and with these 
boards rested the final decision except in special cases 
where the appeal might be taken to the President. 

The Local Boards also had charge of sending the 
men to Camps. In our county all the men had to come 
to Denton first. If the Government sent out a call for 
forty men, about forty-eight or fifty were notified, to re- 
port at Denton on a certain date. The extra men were 
sent for as substitutes so that if any of the forty did not 
appear, there would be some one to send in his place. 
When they arrived in Denton they reported to the Local 
Board. Tliis was done in order to be sure thev were all 



there. This alwaj'S took place the forenoon before they 
were to leave the next morning'. In case of a large num- 
ber being called there was usually a public meeting at 
the Court House wliere addresses were given to tlie boys 
1)y local speakei's. 

AVhen there were forty-eight or fifty men being sent 
away a captain was appointed over the whole company, 
and for every eight men a lieutenant. These were to 
sre that the men arrived safely at the Camps. 

The same plan was worked out in the other counties 
of the United States as here, and before the end of the 
first year half a million soldiers were training in large 
Camps all over tlie United States. These Camps, about 
fifty in number, each a new city, were largely under of- 
ficers who had been trained earlier in the year in new 
officers training camps. When the armistice came a year 
later we had 3,000,000 men under arms, of which more 
than 2,000,000 were in France. 

War Session of the Maryland Legislature of 1917. 

On June 12, 11)17, (lovernor Harrington called an 
extra session of the Legislature of Maryland for the 
purpose of enacting necessary war measures. At this 
session there was a bitter fight between a combination 
in the House of ( ity Democrats and a majority of the 
Republicans, against the administration, the object of 
which was to have written into the Million Dollar War 
Loan bill the names of those who should control the 
fund, but they were defeated in their prupose. This 
combination also attempted to insert a repealer of the 
Wilson Ballot law into the Sohliers Vote Bill, with the 
result that the bill was killed. 

Among the many important laws passed at this ses- 
sion tlie following are those that are essentially war 
measures: 

1 Providing for Annapolis Junction Camp site. 

2 Creating a Maryland Council of Defense. 

3 Providing for a $1,000,000 War Loan. 

4 Creating a Maryland State Guard. 

5 Amending the militia laws. 

6 Compelling idlers to work. 

7 Authorizing volunteer firemen to act as county guards. 

8 Suspending legal proceedings in favor of persons in .Mili- 
tary service. 

9 iSuspending judgments etc. against persons unal)le to pay on 
account of war to apply only to soldiers and sailors. 

—323— 



10 Suspending statues of limitations in favor of persons absent 
on account of war. 

11 Permitting absent soldiers and sailors to register for vot- 
ing. 

The sixth iiieasiire named above was the law gener- 
ally known as the "Work or Fight" bill. It was rigidly 
enforced thronghont the state and in some special sec- 
tions played an important part, but in our own town and 
county there were only a few specific cases where tlie 
enforcement of the law was necessary, for as a rule our 
boys and men were either willing to fight or to stick at 
some worthwhile job. 

The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House at this session were, respectively, Peter J. Camp- 
bell of Baltimore City, and David G. Mcintosh of Balti- 
more county. The Legislature adjourned "sine die" on 
June 27, 1917. 

The Couxcil of Defense. 

In December 1915 Congress passed the National De- 
fense Act which provided for a regular army of 186,000 
officers and men, a federalized National Guard of over 
400,000 men, a system of civilian training camps for re- 
serve officers, and the establishment of plants for the 
production of nitrates and other products used in tlie 
manufacture of munitions. 

The same Act gave the President authority to create 
a wonderful organization known as the Council of Na- 
tional Defense. This Council was a powerful combina- 
tion of officials with experts in science, business and the 
professions. It included sub-committees on transporta- 
tion, munitions, engineering, supplies, raw materials, 
and labor, with numerous sub-committees, including one 
on women in industry. Under this National Council and 
working in connection witli it were the various State 
Councils. 

The Maryland Council of Defense did much work 
and a wide variety of work. In the beginning was Mary- 
land's pledge — 

"RESOLVED: By the General Assembly of Maryland, that the 
State of Maryland pledges all its resources to the Government of 
the United States, for the successful prosecution of the war," 

1. To consider all problems relating to women and their work 
which might arise during the war. 

which resolution was unanimously adopted by meml)ers 
of the General Assembly. 



Therefore the General Assembly passed an act, cre- 
ating the Maryland Council of Defense, providing that 
fifty men should constitute said Council, and at tlie same 
time it provided legislation for $1,000,000 to be subject 
to the order of the Council, for its expenditure, with the 
approval of the Governor. Below each State Council, 
and in constant touch with it, were county councils of 
like manner. 

The Caroline County Commission appointed by 
Governor Harrington was H. L. Cooper, Chairman; 
Harry A. Roe, Thos. H. Chambers, Nathaniel Horsey, 
and Jolm M. Swing. 

This connnission had sui)ervision over the following 
branches of work: Organization, finance, public informa- 
tion, registration, thrift department, educational propa- 
ganda, industrial workers, vigilance, liberty loans and 
war saving stamps, inaintenance of existing social agen- 
cies. 

AVliile the act of the General Assembly creating the 
Council of Defense provided that it should consist of 
onlj^ men, the Governor appreciating the necessity of 
securing the full aid of the women in this state, named a 
like number of women, who organized without legislative 
act as the "Women's Section of the Maryland Council 
of Defense." 

Tiie ])urposes of this Council were: 

1. To consider all problems relating to women and tiieii' 
work which might arise during the war. 

2. To co-ordinate the work and develop the resources of the 
Women of Maryland in order to secure the highest efficiency for 
War Emergency Work. 

3. To furnish a direct and speedy channel between the dif- 
ferent departments of the Federal and State Governments and the 
Women of Maryland, 

4. To ascertain and report the patriotic work that was done 
by women and women's organizations. 

Tile Council was to be a clearing house for all or- 
ganizations and for the work of all individuals through- 
out the State. The Women's Work of tlie ^Maryland 
Council of Defense was the same as the men's except 
that they took up an additional branch of work, the So- 
cial and Welfare Department. 

The Caroline County Commission was a])|)ointed l)y 
Governor Harrington May 3, 1917, and the work of the 
organization was begun at once. This commission con- 
sisted of: Mrs. J. Kemp Stevens, chaii-nian; Mrs. Fred 
P. Roe, Mrs. Thomas R. Green, Mrs. John W. Stowell, 
Mrs. J. W. Pavne. 

—325— 



There was also appointed by tlie Governor a Di- 
vision composed of colored men and a Division com- 
posed of colored women, all of whom according to their 
opportunities did splendid work. 

The entire organization did exceedingly useful work 
in promoting unity, arousing interest, and suppressing 
possible treason within the State. 

Liberty IjOans and War-Savings Certificates. 

In order to finance the war, the Federal Treasury 
Department issued United States Bonds in denomina- 
tions of $50, $100, $500, and $1000, bearing 4% interest. 
This was the First Liberty Loan, and was inaugurated 
in June, 1917. Harvey L. Cooper of Denton was ap- 
pointed chairman of the committee to sell bonds in the 
county. All banks became agencies, and each district 
sent out a committee of local agents. These bonds Avere 
exempt from all taxes except inheritance and the nor- 
mal federal income taxes. AVith the assistance of the 
Women's Preparedness and Survey Commission of Car- 
oline County a meeting was held at the Court House 
June 12, 1917 at which bonds to the amount of over 
$114,000 were sold. 

As the war progressed and it became necessary to 
arouse the people to a conception of the amount of mon- 
ey needed to carry on the war, each state, county, and 
district was apportioned its share of the loan to be made. 
This apportionment was based on the banking resources 
of the community, usually $7.50 per capita unless the 
banking resources amounted to more than that amount. 
Whenever any state, county, or district had subscribed 
its allotment, it was entitled to display its Honor Flag, 
a red-bordered lianner with a number of blue stripes 
across its white field corresponding to the serial num- 
ber of the loan for which it was displayed; thus a com- 
munity subscribing its quota to the Third Liberty Loan 
floated a banner bearing tliree stripes. It was a matter 
of pride and honor among Carolinians to keep their re- 
spective Honor Flags flying regardless of the increas- 
ing amounts of the loans asked. 

All professional people, all county officials, and all 
organizations w^ere appealed to to assist in awakening 
the public conscience in the matter of buying bonds. 
Ministers spoke at local patriotic meetings ever^^vhere, 

—326— 



and lield special services in tlie cluirclies, thns linkiiii^- 
the cause of libert}^ and democracy with tliat of religion. 
Salesmen traveling in antomobiles were instrnnnnital in 
posting- bills and distribnting literature. Public spirited, 
men and women everywhere were ap])ointed to assist in 
a house-to-house canvas for the sale of bonds. 

In all there were five of these loans, the total amount 
of money thus raised in the county being $1,1)05,650. Each 
time a campaign of s]»eaking, exihibiting war souvenirs, 
martial music, etc. preceded or accompanied the drive 
for funds. The Second Liberty Loan drive was the occa- 
sion for a big mass meeting at Denton in October 1917. 
A crowd of .'1000 or more assembled on the Court House 
square listening to addresses by Albert G. Towers, 
Judge Ilai-ry S. Covington, and Sanmel S. AVatts. A 
Scotch Band in national costume and performing on 
bagpipes furnished a jiicturesque and unusual element 
to the occasion, while tlic songs of the Naval Reserve 
(Lhiartet gave tlie touch and atmos])liere of soldier life. 
Countv sul)Scrii)tions to this fund amounted to over 

$.soo,obo. 

The Third Loan, for which the county allotment was 
$;505,200, was launched April 6, 1918 and closed May 4, 
1918. These bonds bore 414% interest and became due 
vSept. 15, 1928. Subscriptions were payable outright or 
in four installments. American and Canadian soldiers 
(the latter of wlioni were wounded men returned from 
the front) figured in this campaign for funds. Caro- 
line's subscription was $353,350. 

The Fourtli Loan was opened Sept. 28, 1918. The 
ban on using gasoline for Sunday automobile rides was 
lifted in order to encourage the big meeting at the coun- 
ty seat on "Heroes Day," Sunday, Sept. 29. James W. 
'Chapman, Clarence Perkins, Simon J. Block, and Rev. 
C. T. Wyatt were speakers on this occasion. During the 
campaign the government loaned patriotic films for dis- 
play in motion picture parlors. These shows were open 
to all who displayed tlie lintton showing that they had 
bouglit bonds of tlie Fourth Inberty Loan. Later in tlie 
campaign they were open to all. $012,900 were raised 
for this loan. 

The Fifth, or Victory Loan, as it was called, was 
made in April 1919, after the armistice had been signed. 
A special inducement to buy these bonds was offered in 
allowing 4"i % interest. A rousing meeting was planned 

—327— 



for this final campaign. Between 5000 and 8000 people 
from the conntv attended the meeting at the county seat 
April 27, 1919. " ''Jerry's Coffin" and "Verennes Taxi," 
two war tanks from overseas, divided interest with an 
airplane from Washington, the first to come to land in 
Denton. A thirty-piece band of the Seventeenth Infan- 
try, as well as the presence of several returned soldiers 
from Caroline County stirred the patriotism of the 
crowd assisting in a glorious over-the-top subscription 
of $525,300. 

Another means of raising money by government 
loans was the sale of Thrift Stamps and War-Savings 
Stam])s. This sale was directed by the Treasure De- 
])artment under authority of the same act of Congress 
which floated tlie Second Liberty Loan. It was designed 
to eiKMUirage thrift at a much-needed time for that vir- 
tue, and to enable those to participate in war loans 
wliose means would not permit them to buy even the 
smallest lioiid, — $50. Thrift Stamps cost twenty-five 
cents, could l)e ])urchased at any time and, when sixteen 
had been collected, could be exchanged for War Savings 
Stam])s which bore interest compounded semi-annually 
at 4% and were "absolutely and unconditionally free 
from all national, state, and local taxes." 

Every War-Savings Stamp could be registered at 
any ])ostoffice, tlius insuring the owner again loss. Any 
purciiaser might sell his Stamps back to the government 
through any postoffice on 10 days written notice. These 
conditions put and kept W. S. S. within the reach of all 
who could have anything at all, and made them popular 
investments. The' amount of this loan ($2,000,000,000 
for the United States) was reserved for those of small 
means bv limiting the amount purchasable at one time 
to $100 and by one person to $1000. 

The campaign began Jan. 1, 1918 and closed Dec. 
31, of the same year, by which time about $400,000 had 
been collected through W. S. S. sales. Harry W. Davis 
of Federalsburg was chairman for the county; post of- 
fices, banks, stores, and public school teachers were auth- 
orized agents or agencies. As far as possible Thrift 
Stamps and War Savings Stamps were sold through the 
schools and school children, in order to give training in 
the formation of thrift habits, and to give the citizens 
of tomorrow a chance to participate in the duty and the 
privilege of maintaining liberty as a world standard. 

—328— 



United War Work. 

Througiiout the war various benevolent and phil- 
anthropic organizations made nnmerons "drives" for 
fnnds with which to carry on their efforts to bring some- 
thing of the atmosphere of home to the boys in camp, in 
the field, and in the trenches. Acting on the suggestion 
of President Wilson, seven prominent organizations, 
the Young Men's Christian Association, the Young 
Women's Christian Association, the Knights of Colum- 
bus, the Jewish Welfare Board, the War Conamunity 
Service, the American Library Commission, and the Sal- 
vation Arm}^ instituted a joint drive in the proceeds of 
which each organization shared in proportion to its 
membership. Mr. T. Alan Goldsborough was made 
chairman of the Caroline County committee to raise its 
quota of $12,900 of the fund for the United War Work- 
ers, as they were jointly called. Sub-chairmen were ap- 
pointed for each district, and the work carried on in the 
same manner as in previous campaigns. $15,434.26 was 
tlie actual amount raised. 

As an auxiliary to the United War Workers, bands 
of Victory Boys and Victory Girls were organized in all 
parts of the county, pledging themselves not only to give 
a stated amount to the fund, but to earn it by their own 
efforts. Hundreds of children were busy several months 
in earning mone}^ w^ith which to meet their obligations. 
Interesting, indeed, were the many ways in which child- 
ren made themselves of use to their parents and other 
employers. 

Approximately 600 boys and 700 girls signed pledg- 
es varying amounts from one to five dollars. All of 
these Victory Boys and Victory Girls were under twenty 
years of age, and most of them were enrolled in the pub- 
lic schools. The results were most gratifying, and, in 
fact, little short of remarkable, the total amount pledged 
being over four thousand dollars, much above the coun- 
ty's school quota. 

Following is a list of schools and their respective 
pledges : 

Marydel $ 40.00 Carey's 40.00 

Henderson 50.00 Camp Grove 15.00 

Coldsboro 215.00 Burrsville 13.00 

Moore's 65.00 Liden's 5.00 

Lowe's 29.00 Central 25.00 

Creensboro 225.00 Caroline High 867.25 

—329— 



Denton Primary 73.00 Saulsbury's 

Andersontown 5;J .00 Cedar Grove 

Harmony 14.00 Ridgely High 

Preston 714.00 Ridgely Primary .... 

Choptank 3 5.00 Furman's Grove 

Poplar Neck 15.25 Laurel Grove 

Hubbard's 45.00 Concord 

Federalsburg 757.55 Smithville 

Nichols 21.60 Chestnut Grove 

Hillsboro 56.00 

COLORED SCHOOL'S. 

Mt. Zion .$ 30.00 Federalsburg 58.00 

Denton 65.00 Tuckahoe 13.70 



2 4 , 


. U 


10 


,011 


25 


.00 


72 


. 


12 


. 5 


28 , 


,00 


o , 


,00 


2 


.00 


2 3 


,00 



Total .i;4051 . 20 

It was very pleasiiis;' indeed to the ])eople «'euei'ally 
to know that nearly $4000 of the amount ])led,^-ed alone 
was actually contributed by the boys and i*:irls and for- 
warded to the proper source to aid in the successful 
termination of the war. 

Report of Caroline County Maryland Chapter of 
Red Cross. 

Prior to the sprini»' of 1917, when we entered the World 
War, there had been no Red Cross org'anization of any 
kind in Caroline County, Maryland. There were a few 
Red Cross members, ])ossibly six, scattered throu,Q:liout 
the County, recruited by chapters in the neii;id)orini;' 
cities. One Sunday School class of .2;irls in Goldslioro 
had be,i>'un to make slings, bed-s«cks, etc. under tlie direc- 
tion of thier teacher, who was a member of one of the 
Delaware organizations. 

Early in May, the Women's Section, Council of De- 
fence for Caroline County, met in Denton to organize 
and to apportion the work to be undertaken by the Coun- 
cil to the various members. To Mrs. J. W. Stowell of 
Federalsburg, was assigned the department of Social 
and Welfare work and the Medical and Nursing depart- 
ment. As these departments were covered by Red Cross 
work almost entirely it seemed best to organize that 
work throughout the county. Mrs. Stowell immediately 
got in communication with the Chairmen of the Balti- 
more Chapter and it was arranged to organize circles in 
the various towns, these circles to belong to the Balti- 
more Chapter. By the end of June tlie following circles 
were established with the sub-chairmen named: 

—330— 



Denton — Mrs. J. Kemp Stevens 
Federalsburg — Mrs. Harry W. Davis 
Ridgely — Mrs. John Svsring 
Greensboro — Mrs. Grace Quigg 
Preston — Mrs. Frank Lednum 
Hillsboro — Mrs. G. Lawrence Wilson 
Goldsboro — Mrs. J. Spencer Lapliam 
^larydel — Mrs. Harry S. Dailey 

The total membership was about three hundred, all 
working hard to earn money to buy material for the sup- 
plies that were required of them. 

In June, Mrs. Stowell had a letter from Red Cross 
Headquarters in Washington, saying that the Baltimore 
Chapter had no right to organize the counties and urged 
her to organize an independent chapter in Caroline 
County. Early in July a meeting was called at the 
Court House in Denton for this purpose, and after much 
effort and many communications with Headquarters, 
the Caroline Countv Chapter Red Cross was officially 
recognized. Tlie officers were: 

Mrs. J. W. stowell. Chairman 

Mrs. J. Kemp Stevens, Vice-chairman 

Miss Mary Hobbs, Secretary 

Dr. M. Bates Stephens, Treasurer 

The Chapter, which started with three hundred 
members, had grown to five hundred and forty-four by 
Christmas 1917. During the Christmas Drive, by inten- 
sive effort of every sort in the way of solicitation, visit- 
ing country homes, calling on the town people, booths 
in banks, stores and postoffices, and by public meetings, 
the membership was raised to two thousand and fifty- 
five. At the Christmas Drive in 1918 the total adult 
membership was counted as twenty-four liundrcd and 
eighteen. 

The Junior Red Cross work in the County began in 
earnest in March 1918. At the end of that school year 
the Chapter School Committee reported a membership 
of three thousand divided into forty-six auxiliaries. Sev- 
eral schools adopted refugees with the money collected 
for membership dues, two contributed toward a cot 
equipment, others wished to buy material and make lay- 
ettes. A few blankets were knitted — each child making 
one square. The total amount ydaced in tlie treasury 
by the children was $571.47. On May 18, 1918 over fifteen 
hundred children marched in a Junior Red Cross Aux- 
iliary Parade, held at Denton. The parade ended at the 
.\thletic field where ]:»atriotic exercises were given. 

—331— 



During the summer of 1917, while the membership 
of the Red Cross in Caroline County was still small, 
$3784.77 was raised and one thousand dollars was spent 
in the equipment of a base hospital. By the time the 
second War Fund Drive had been appropriated the mem- 
bership had o-rown until the quota of the county was fix- 
ed at five thousand dollars. This amount was more than 
half subscribed in the Denton churches on Sunday morn- 
ing, following the pastor's appeal for the cause. At the 
end of the week a big mass meeting was held on the 
Court House Square. Speeches were made by Chair- 
man Harry A. Roe, Dr. M. Bates Stephens, State Sup- 
erintendent of Education, Mr. R. A. Boyd of the Feder- 
al Trade Commission, and Corporal Chas. W. Bowlby, 
a Canadian who was on tlie battlefield of France for 
two years. The total subscri])tion amounted to twelve 
thotisand dollars. There was always a plan for raising 
money for Red Cross and the execution proved in most 
cases successful. The ministers co-operated heartily, 
both by speaking at the regular church meetings au<l b}" 
their words at public gatherings. 

The colored women of the county felt their sons 
were going to war and they desired to help the Red 
Cross. In Ridgely a circle was organized and joined the 
Chapter. In Preston a group of colored women sewed 
under the direction of Mrs. Douglas, the sub-chairman 
of Preston. At Denton, the women formed a club and 
sewed on caps or aprons whicli they sold to their friends 
and donated the money to the Red Cross; they also made 
comfort kits for their soldiers and filled them. On the 
whole the colored population responded very well to the 
call for members, especially when solicited by their own 
people. They showed their eagerness to aid in many 
ways, some of the women would offer to launder the lin- 
en when hemmed by the white women, saying that tliey 
wanted to do something. 

Chart Shown in County AoRiciiLTURAL Exhibit on 
November 1, 1918. 

caroline county red cross 

Nov. 1, 1917 Nov. 1 ,1318. 

Adult Members 22 75 

Junior Members .TOOO 

Circles 11 

Members 2275 

—332— 



Comfort Kits 321 

Sweaters 5 7 7 

Knitted Socks 539 

Pajamas 506 

Hospital Supplies 2884 

111 regard to the work done by the comity directly 
for boys in service, there is much to be sai(h The first 
Christmas (1917) one limidred and eighty-eight Christ- 
1 1 - packages were sent to boys in camp. One town sent 
to every man in service from their district a frnit cake 
costing ninety-five cents. Another town made a special- 
ty of collecting Victrola records for camp. Smileage 
l)ooks sold very well too, in the connty. The second year, 
the Red Cross gave all ])ossible pnblicity to the Christ- 
mas cartoon distribntion for families who had men in 
tli(v P>-it'"Mtionary Force. The cnstom was established 
when the first men left Caroline, of fnrnishing each man 
with a Comfort Kit. The kit came from his home town 
and seemed especially ap]ireciated on that account. 

The Home Service Section is now the most active 
of all branches in our Chapter. Since the first of July, 
1918, when Mrs. J. Spencer Lapham, the present secre- 
tary, was appointed, about two hundred cases were 
handled. Members of the Volunteer Motor Service 
^ op have aided in reaching outlying country districts. 
Emergency calls receive immediate answers. The work 
has been varied and interesting. Wives and mothers 
whose allotments do not come regularly report to the 
Secretary and inquiries are begun at once. Mrs. Lap- 
liam has had forty-three of these cases, and all but five 
have been settled satisfactorily. Three of these fam- 
ilies have had financial aid. She also helped relatives 
get information concerning those reported missing in 
action or wounded or ill. During the fall of 1918 there 
were many cases of influonza in soldier's families. In 
several instances the Home Service Section obtained a 
few days' leave of absence for soldiers who were still in 
camp, to return to see relatives who were dangerously 
ill. Ill other cases Mrs, Lapham corresponded with the 
man in service, keeping him in touch with his family un- 
til danger was over. Letters have been written to men 
in service for the wives and parents who were not able 
to do their own correspondence. The members of this 
department have helped men in ser\ace to get affidavits 
necessary to release them in cases where there was ill- 
ness or liusiness difficulties. 

—333— 



Tlie returned soldier comes to the Home Service 
•Section for information concerning compensation, in- 
surance, the sixty dollar bonus and other similar things. 
Occasionally a day jjasses when the Secretary does not 
write a letter, but generall}^ from three to fifteen are 
written daily. To prove some claims it was necessary 
to get certified copies of birth certificates, marriage rec- 
ords, and even divorce decrees. 

Both during and after the war the Belgian Relief 
has not been forgotten. Garments were donated for the 
refugees and new material was made, by the women of 
the county, into serviceable underwear and outer gar- 
ments for Belgian children according to directions from 
Headquarters. The Red Cross will never again show 
only a handful of members in Caroline County. The 
altrustic spirit introduced by and through its work is of 
untold benefit to our people. 

Annie Carter Sinclair^ Sec't. 

Internal Conditions. 
Food. 

Simultaneous with the mobilizing, arming, and 
equip})ing of troops for the trenches, another army was 
being mustered, organized, and drilled to serve in tbe 
less spectacular, but not less necessary, war against 
waste, and for the increased production of life essen- 
tials. On April 10 and 11, four da3^s after the declara- 
tion of war. Secretary Houston met a delegation of Ag- 
ricultural Commissioners in St. Louis to discuss tlie food 
and fuel situation. During the summer months tlie gen- 
eral plan of campaign there formulated was worked out 
in detail so that when the passage of the Food-Control 
Act of Aug. 10, 1917 clothed the President with unlimit- 
ed power to control the food resources of the nation, lit- 
tle time was lost in putting those plans into effect. 

In general the objects of the Administration were: 
(]) To decrease the home consumption of wheat, meat, 
and sugar, (2) to keep up the shipment of supplies to 
our army and our allies, (3) to prevent profiteering, and 
(4) to increase production. To do this necessitated the 
cooperation of each county and state in the Union. Al- 
though almost all regulations in effect in the counties 
were made by the Federal or the State Administration, 

—334— 



and altliougii every possible use was made of already 
existing organizations and officers, it was yet necessary 
for each county to have an Administrator to issue sugar 
permits, to meet local merchants for the purpose of fix- 
ing prices within regulation liimts, to keep millers in- 
formed as to prices, and to see that government de- 
mands were met. Mr. T. H. Chambers of Federalsburg 
was appointed Administrator for Caroline County in 
June, 1918. 

By this time many government regulations had al- 
ready gone into effect. In November, 1917 cards had 
been distributed to and signe<l by housewives who tluis 
pledged themseh'es to one meatless and one wheatless 
meal each day, one meatless and one wheatless day each 
week, no pork on Saturdays, and a general saving of 
sugar and fats. These abstainances were voluntary; 
others were mandatory. Only one-half pound of sugar 
for each individual in the family could be purchased 
weekly. Every grocer was required to keep a record 
of date, amount, name of purchaser, and number in 
purchaser's family. These records were inspected bj^ 
the Administrator. For every pound of wheat flour 
purchased an equal amount of some snbstituute such as 
rice flour, corn-meal, oatmeal, etc., must be bought. No 
individual in town or city could buy more than twenty- 
five pounds of wheat flour at one time. Country resi- 
dents were allowed fifty pounds. Bakeries, also, were 
under regulations. A maximum quantity of sugar and 
shortening was fixed, uniform loaf weights were adopt- 
ed, and the flour used had to consist of one-fifth wlioat 
substitute. Such bread received tlie patriotic name of 
"Victory Bread." A '^Fair Price" list agreed upon at 
a meeting of merchants of the county and Administrator 
Chambers in July, 1917 gave these figures: 

Sugar, per lb $ .10 

Flour (wheat), per lb 07 

Flour (corn meal), per lb 6 

Flour ( rye) , per lb 07 

Flour (barley), per lb 08 

Rice, per lb 10-$ .15 

Oats (loose), per lb • 08 

Corn syrup (2% lb. cans) 25 

Cheese, per lb 30— .35 

Butter, per lb 55- . 60 

Beef (rib roast ) , per lb 28- .40 

Beef (Sirloin Steak) , per lb 30- . 45 

Lard (Kettle rendered), per lb 32- .35 

Smoked Ham, per lb 35- . 45 

Bacon, per lb 45- .50 

—335— 



Mail}' a lialf-forgotteii recipe for making corii- 
"breads, cottage cheese, etc. was revived; the old-time 
|)ractice of drying frints and vegetables came into 
vogue ; and many perishable vegetables were conserved 
by modern methods of canning. Mrs. Edith Norman, 
Home Demonstration Agent for the county, was instru- 
mental in disseminating such knowledge. One hundred 
twelve women were enrolled in AVomen's Home Eco- 
nomics C'hil)s which met regularly during the summer of 
1918 for demonstration in canning and drying. Although 
the amouunt of such work done was limited by a fruit 
and vegetalile shortage due to drought, yet the value of 
produce thus preserved was approximately $2000. Club 
work, comprising poultry and tomato raising as well as 
canning fruits and vegetables, was carried on among 
the girls also. One hundred eighty-four girls were en- 
rolled; the value of the canned goods amounted to 
$359.10. Under E. A. Anderson, County Farm Demon- 
stration Agent, boys' clubs were organized, with the re- 
sult tlmt during the two years of the war 1680 bushels 
of corn, 384 busliels of potatoes, and 19 pigs were added 
to the food production of the county. 

Fuel. 

Conservation of fuel was another problem of the 
war. Chiefly on account of lack of transportation facili- 
ties from mines to consumer, but also because of strikes 
among the miners, to obtain coal became both difficult 
and expensive. Hence conservation and use of substi- 
tutes became necessary as in the food situation. A cam- 
paign of volunteer "save a shovelful a day" was inaug- 
urated by the government. Mr. H. C. Hobbs of Denton 
was appointed Fuel Administrator to see that coal was 
properly distributed, to procure it for dealers, and to 
instruct them in their methods of dealing. The max- 
imum price paid for coal in the county during the war 
wa- $11.77. Partly in order to relieve the coal famine 
in the eastern states, but more to decrease shipment to 
already congested ports the Federal Fuel Administra- 
tion ordered ])ractically all factories east of the Missis- 
sippi river, unless engaged in the manufacture of war 
material, to shut odwn for the eight day period from 
Jan. 17 to 29, 1918. Moreover on Monday for ten suc- 
cessive weeks stores, sliops, factories, and public build- 

—386— 



iiigs except schools, hotels, and li<'litiii,n' i)hnits were re- 
quired to close. There were no exceptions to this order 
in Caroline County. Mondays were ''heatless holidays." 
For a similar reason, unnecessary travel by auto- 
mobile in states east of the Mississippi was discourai>'ed 
durini;- tlie sunmier months. Another measure desi<^-ned 
to save fuel and li,i>'hts as well as to promote ij;ardeninj^ 
was the Daylight-Saving* Law which became effective 
May 1, 1918. It provided that clocks be set ahead one 
hour on that date, and set back again in October. The 
plan was iJO})ular in towns, where a man might have 
considerable time for gardening after business hours, 
but the opposition by farmers, generally, was so strong 
that after two years' trial Congress repealed the law^ 
Further to complicate the heating problem an uimsually 
low temperature prevailed throughout the winter of 
1917-1918. Many bushels of ])otatoes and apples that 
had been buried in ])its of ordinary depth froze. So 
great was the consum])tion of coal and so inadequate the 
available supply that schools were in some cases forced 
to close for want of it. 

Iiiflu.eJiza. 

The fall of 1918 is memorable as the time of the 
Spanisli Influenza epidemic. The disease probably crept 
into America through the medium of the army, since 
practically all of Europe was devastated by it prior to 
its appearance here. The first case reT)orted in Caroline 
County was from Preston, Oct. 5. The whole county 
was quickly involved; schools, churches, moving picture 
theaters, and other meeting places were closed by state 
and county boards of health, and remained closed for a 
period of five weeks. Maiiy places of business closed be- 
cause of the illness of managers and operators. Whole 
families were stricken down at once. A total of 1140 
cases was reported; 134 deaths resulting therefrom. Al- 
though there were cases of the disease during the entire 
winter, the epidemic was practically over by November. 

jh'misitcc. 

Meanwhile, from the baltleline of Euro^je there 
were coming indications that a cessation of hostilities 
must be near. Eager anticipation, therefore, speedily 
gave way to wild demonstration when on the morning 

—337— 



of Nov, 11, 1918 word was received that an armistice 
had been agreed upon. Business was suspended, pray- 
ers of thanksgiving were offered in the churches, pa- 
rades were formed, whistles shrieked, bellsjingled, flags 
fluttered. Every house showed its bunting; every citi- 
zen expressed in his own way joy, relief, and gratitude 
at the indications of peace. 

Flood. 

On August 15, 1919 calamity again visited the coun- 
ty — this time in the form of a flood. Heavy rains for 
a week so saturated the soil and filled the streams that 
the downpour of the memorable Wednesday of Aug. 15, 
broke dams, overflowed river banks, swept away bridges, 
floodtd streets, cellars and the first floors of dwellings, 
and drowned small animals such as pigs and chickens. 
Electric lines were broken, street lights were out, and 
railroad traffic was suspended. Crops were either de- 
stroyed or badly damaged. Boyce Mill, Bloomery, and 
Pennypacker Bridges were completely wrecked, as was 
likewise a bridge on the state road near Federalsburg. 
Falkner Bridge stood intact with a thirty foot gulley 
cutting the road each side of it. The total damage to 
roads and bridges was estimated at $60,000, 

List of Inducted Men Furnished by the Local Board 

OF Caroline County to the Adjutant-General 

OF Maryland. 

Names starred are those of men who died in service 
either in camp or on the field. No titles of rank are giv- 
en because of the impossibility of securing all. For a 
similar reason a few names occur both in this list and in 
the Roster of Enlished Men when the exact case could 
not be ascertained. 

Adams, Leonard W. (CoL) Barcus, Luther Denton 

Denton Baynard. Xornian W. (Col.) 

Aldridge, James N. (Col.) Hobbs 

Preston Beer. Wilbur Peter Denton 

Alexander. Oscar Marydel Beel, Noble Henderson 

Allen, Raymond (Col.) Ridgely Benson. Arthur D. Greensboro 

Anderson, Alonzo (Col.) Denton Benson, George W. Denton 

Andrew, Harold Denton Betton. William D. 

Anthony, Calvin Denton Federalsburg 

Anthony, Howard Denton Beulah, Thomas Denton 

Austin, Courtland Ridgely Beulah, Walter (Col.) 

Bascak, John Hobbs Federalsburg 

Baker, Will)ert John Denton Blackburn, John Henry, Ridgely 

—338— 



Blades, Ralph Thos., Bethlehem 
Blanche, Raymond B. Ridgely 
Blades, Harlan R. Denton 

Blosser, Orville A. Denton 

Breeding, Thomas Mark 

Federalsburg 
Brewington, Solomon H. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Bridegroom, Alonza L., Preston 
Bridegroom, Elmer J. 

Federalsburg 
Brown, William D. Goldsboro 
Brown, James Earl 

Federalsburg 
Brumbaugh, Andrew I. 

Greensboro 
Brumbaugh, Isaac V. Denton 

Butler, Albert R. Preston 

Burgess, William M. Preston 

Burkey, Irvin W. Denton 

Canall, Edward C. Goldsboro 

Cahall, Alfred G., Federaslburg 
Callahan, Samuel C. 

Federalsburg 
Cannon, Lacey (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Cannon, Oscar H. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Carroll, Clinton T. Preston 

Carroll, John Russell 

Federalsburg 
Cauley, Harry W. Denton 

Chaffinch, Clarence E. Hobbs 

Cnambers, Percy A. 

Federalsburg 
Clark, Alfred Carson Denton 

Clevenger, Harland D. 

Federalsburg 
C lough, James A., Henderson 
Clough, Stephen W., Greensboro 
Closson, Orland Cecil 

Federalsburg 
Cohey, Lewis Kennard Ridgely 
Cohee, Samuel B. Marydel 

Collins, Benj. F. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Collins, William A. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Cole, Walter Raymond Preston 
Collins, Wilmer T. Federalsburg 
Comegys, Carroll Hillsboro 

Conner, Emory Claude 

Greensboro 
Conley, Henry E. Henderson 

Connor, Roland B. Greensboro 
Corkran, Arthur W. 

Federalsburg 
Coulbourne, Ralph E. 

Federalsburg 
Covington. Norris B. 

Federalsburg 
Cox, Earl Saxton Choptank 



Cox, Jerome R. Preston 

Craft, Herbert Paul 

Federalsburg 
Craft, Frank M. Denton 

Cuthberton, Zeb. (Col.) Ridgely 
Davidson, George \V. Denton 

Davis, Charles N., Federalsburg 
Deen, Albert Lawrence Preston 
Dew, Harold James 

Federalsburg 
Dhue, Noble J. Goldsboro 

Dickenson, Joshua \Si. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Dill, Whiteley W. Denton 

Downes, Marion H. Denton 

Downes, George W. (Col.) 

Denton 
Downes, Robert W. Denton 

Downing, Ira J. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Dulin, Benjamin R. Goldsboro 
Dukes, Levi Reyner Denton 

Dyer, Norman (Col.) Denton 

Eaton, Edw. Herman Denton 

Ebling, Daniel Ridgely 

Edge, William Robert 

'Greensboro 
Edwards, Charlie Greensboro 

Ellwanger, David Howard 

Denton 
Emerson, John H. Denton 

Emerson, Raymond E. 

Greensboro 
Everngam, John L. Denton 

Fields, Daniel, Jr. Federalsburg 
Fisher, Clarence W. (€ol.) 

Ridgely 
Fisher, Charles Ridgely 

Fisher, George L. Ridgely 

Fleming, William McN. 

Goldsboro 
Fletcher, William L. (Col.) 

Preston 
Flowers, Henry Greensboro 

Fluharty, Arthur S. Preston 

Fountain, John W. 

Hickman. Del. 
Fuchs, Conrad Williamsburg 

Gadow, Albert B. Preston 

Garey, Edward S. Denton 

Geisel, C. Robert Denton 

Geisel, Owen P. Denton 

Gibson, Gilbert Preston 

Gordon, Roy Denton 

Gould, Harrison (Col.) 

Goldisboro 
Gould. James B. (Col.) 

Greensboro 
Gray. Robert Hooper 

Goldsboro 
Green. Edmond W. (Col.) 

Preston 



-339— 



Griffin, William M. (Col.) 

Greensboro 
Griffith, Ernest F. Denton 

Gross, Fred (Col.) Denton 

Gwin, William J. Denton 

Hammond, Silas (Col.) Ridgely 
Hammond, Charles W. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Harden, John Wesley (Col.) 

Hillsboro 
Harding, Harvey E. Bethlehem 
Harper, James M. Federalsburg 
Harrington, Lawrence J. 

Greensboro 
Harvey, Charles T. Denton 

Harris, Norman Greensboro 

Harris, John J. Henderson 

Haynes, Hayward(,Col.) Preston 
Heather, James T. Marydel 

Henry, Robert W. (Col.) 

Goldsboro 
Henning, Edward Dukes Denton 
Henry, .Mitchell F. (Col.) 

Go.dsboro 
Henry, Joseph E. (Col.) 

Goldsboro 
Hickev, George W. Marydel 

Hicks, Clifton R. W. Hillsboro 
Hignutt, Elmer E. Federalsburg 
Hignutt, Clarence E. Hobbs 

Hines, Alonzo (Col.) Hillsboro 
Hmes, Lee Roy (Col.) Ridgely 
Holland, Waldon (Col.) Preston 
Holland, Gilbert (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Hollingsworth, Henry T. Denton 
Holt, William A. Hillsboro 

Hopkins, Harry Elmer Preston 
Horn, Elmer Francis Preston 
Howell, William Robert, Denton 
Howell, Rossie M. Ridgely 

Hubbard, Chauncey T. (Col.) 

Preston 
Hubbard, Veda W. Greensboro 
Hubbard, William H. 

Greensboi o 
Hubbard, Raymond T. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Hughes, Johnathan L. Denton 
Hughes, Milton Wilby 

Goldsbco 
HuUiger, Frederick W. 

Federalsburg 
Hulliger, Henry H. Federalsburg 
Hunley, John (Col.) Ridgely 

Hurlock, Milton W. Denton 

Hutson, Chester Arthur 

Greensboro 
Hynson, William H. Denton 

Irwin, Robert Stewart Denton 
Jackson, Charles R. Greensboro 



Jarman, Clinton B., Jr. 

Greensboro 
Jenkins, William T. (Col.) 

Ridgely 
Jester, Thomas L. Federalsburg 
Johns, Benj. H. (Col.) Preston 
Johnson, James H. Denton 

Jones, Fred E. Hobbs 

Johnson, Richard (Col.) Ridgely 
Johnson, Benjamin F. Denton 
Johns, Alfred Thos. (Col.) 

Preston 
Johnson, Emory (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Johnson. James A. Federalsburg 
Jones, John W. (Col.) Preston 
Jones, James Fred Choptank 

Jopp, Samuel Taylor Denton 

Jopp, William Harry Denton 

Kauffman, Jacob F. Ridgely 

Kemp, William August Preston 
Kennedy, John M. Greensboro 
Kenton, Hiram \V. Greensboro 
Kent, josepii Federalsburg 

Kinnamon, Oscar Greensboro 

Kinnamon, Albert W. (Coi.) 

Denton 
Knox, James Henry Denton 

Knox, Lawrence Denton 

Koeneman, Herbert E. 

Greensboro 
Kusmaul, Christian Henderson 
Lane, Clarence F. Ridgely 

Latshaw Vernie W. Ridgely 

Layton, Edward Preston 

Legree, John (Col.) Denton 

Lewis, Harvey Edw. (Col.) 

Denton 
Lewis, James Henry ( Col. ) 

Ridgely 
Lewis, Arthur J., Hickman, Del. 
Lowe, William G. Federalsburg 
Lynch, William E. Ridgely 

Magers, George W. Preston 

Magee, Edgar (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Meluney, Wm. Clement 

Hickman, Del. 
Marvel, William D. Ridgely 

Matthews, Robert L. (Col.) 

Goldsboro 
Matthews, Oscar (Col.) 

Greensboro 
Merriken, Calvert C. 

Federalsburg 
Meredith, Leslie L. 

Wilmington, Del. 
Messer, Alton R. Federalsburg 
Milby, Charles R. Goldsboro 

Miley, James L. Preston' 

Milleman, John C. Preston 



-340— 



Mills, Marion Earl Fecleralsbiirg 
Mitchell, Harry Leon 

Federalsburg 
^litchell, George H. Greensboro 
Moore, Harry T. Ridgely 

Moore, VVondell H. Preston 

Morgan, Edgar Denton 

Murphy, Harry J. Hobbs 

McNeal, Lewis T. Denton 

McKnatt, Alexander, Greensboro 
McKnat, Burt Greensboro 

McCrea, William V. 

Federalsburg 
McCoy, John W. Federalsburg 
Nashold, Walter McK 

Greensboro 
Neal, Luther C. Federalsburg 
Neff, Paul James Ridgely 

Xewell, George Arthur 

Federalsburg 
Nichols, Lee Earl, Federalsburg 
Nickerson, Arthur (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Orrell, Elwood C. Greensboro 

Parker, John (Col.) Ridgely 

Parrott, William M. Denton 

Patcnett, Edward 1. Bethlehem 
Pearson, Thomas C. Preston 

Perry, John Arthur Denton 

Perry, William M. Preston 

Perry, Charles Levin Preston 

Perry, Joseph H. Ridgely 

Perkins, Huntley E. (Col.) 

Greensboro 
Pettijohn, William H. (Col.) 

Denton 
Pendleton, Edmund T. Ridgely 
Pinkins, Roland (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Pinkine, Edward .M. Denton 

Plummer, James O. Denton 

Porter, Clayton S. Denton 

Price, Reuben H. Federalsburg 
Pritchett, Enoch (Col.) 

Ilill-.l.'oro 
Pritchett, Loren S Henderson 
Pritchett, Ralph B, Greensboro 
Rash, Thomas Geo. Ridgely 

Reaser, Fred (CoL) 

Federalsburg 
Reed, Benjamin E. Preston 

Reed, Emmons Harvey Denton 
Reese, James Herbert Preston 
Reese, John H. Preston 

Reichelt, William P. Hobbs 

Reynolds, Henry ,F. Preston 

Rhynas, Fred (Col.) Hillsboro 
Rickards, William F. Ridgely 
Robinson, Alexander (Col.) 

Ridgely 
Robinson, Wright E. Marydel 
Roberts, Bion Ridgely 



Roe, Thomas Dukes Denton 

Roe, William Shanley Denton 
Roher, Elmer C. Hobbs 

Roy, Cordy (Col.) Greensboro 
Royer, Jonas Ridgely 

Ross, Arthur (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Rouse, Benj. F. Goldsboro 

Russell, Horsey S. Greensboro 
Satterfield, John H. (Col.) 
Satterheld, Edwin C. Denton 

Satterfield, Allie H. Denton 

Satterfield, Chas. S. (Col.) 

Denton 
Satterfield, Nelson M. (Col.) 

Denton 
Saunders, Harry C. Goldsboro 
Scott, Fred Houston Denton 

Scott, Clint Denton 

Scott, Herbert (Col.) Goldsboro 
Scott, Manuel (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Scullev, William A., Jr. 

Ridgely 
Sculley, Arters Ridgely 

Sharp, William R. (Col.) 

Presion 
Sheubrooks, Herbert .Mf^rydel 
Shipman, Stephen P. Denton 

Shively, Horace D. Goldsboro 
Short, Luther Hillsboro 

Sisk, Albert Fletcher Preston 
Sisk, Joseph Gilbert Preston 

Smith, Olus Erie Goldsbo.'o 

Smith, Walter Roy Greensboro 
Smith, Wm. Henry (Col.) 

Ridgeiy 
Smith, Lawrence Greensboro 

Smith, Edw. Fields Federalsburg 
Smith, Fred Norwood Hobbs 

Smith, Earl James Federalsburg 
Smith, Norman Earl 

Federalsburg 
Smith, Frank Lewis 

Federalsburg 
Smith, Oscar Denton 

Smith, Selby Ray Ridgely 

Smith, William (Col.) Preston 
Smith, William E. (Col.) 

Ridgely 
Sparklin, Daniel W. 

Federalsburg 
Stafford, Willis Ray Denton 

Stanford, Arthur L. (Col.) 

Greensboro 
Stanley, Harry L. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Stanford. Wm. INIcK. (Col.) 

Preston 
Swann, Oscar Greensboro 

Thawley, Wesley E. Denton 

Theis, Oscar H. Denton 



—341— 



Thomas, Harry (Col.) Ridgely 
Tiller, Aaron Ridgely 

Tiller, Davis (Col.) Ridgely 

Todd, Carlton Ward Choptank 
Todd, Ralph Richson 

Federalsburg 
Todd, Herbert R. Preston 

Todd, Roland Edw. Preston 

Totheroh, William E. 

Greensboro 
Towers, Roland 0. Denton 

Trazzare, Clifford T. Dentoia 

Tribbett, Edwin Greensboro 

Tribbett, Harvey F. Greensboro 
Tribbett, Sherman L. Denton 
Trice, Edwin Haynes 

Federalsburg 
Truitt, Herman H. Ridgely 

Truxon, Elijah B. (Col.) Denton 
Turner, Clarence Edw. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Turner, Charles (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Turner, Oscar W. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Turner, James Roland 

Federalsburg 
Vickery, Lawrence Hobbs 

Vonwille, Philip F. Greensboro 
Warner, John (Col.) Ridgely 
Ward, Joseph Francis Denton 
Warren, Alonzo (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Waters, George W. (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Watkins, George A. (Col.) 

Greensboro 
Waldron, Lee A. Choptank 

Way man, Henry (Col.) 

Hillsboro 
Webb, Benj. B. (Cu\) Preston 
Werner, Ralph Preston 

West, Carlton Preston 

West, Nelson (Col.) Baltimore 



Whiteley, Roy E. Choptank 

Willin, Everett Edw. 

Federalsburg 
Willin, Alton Adkius 

Federalsburg 
Willin, William (Col.) 

Baltimore 
Willin. Mark A. H., Jr. 

Oak Grove, Del. 
Wilson, William R. (Col.) 

Ridgely 
Williamson, Charles F. 

Choptank 
Williams, John H. Federalsburg 
Williamson, Emmett McK. 

Federalsburg 
Williams, Silver (Col.) 

Federalsburg 
Williams, Will (Col.) Denton 
Williamson, Ben C. 

Federalsburg 
Williamson, Leonard F. 

Federalsburg 
Wilson, Carroll Denton 

Wilson, Job W. (Col.) Denton 
Wilson, Joseph (Col.) Marydel 
Wisher. Linwood (Col.) Hobbs 
Woodward, James C Greensboro 
Wright, Clarence A. 

Federalsburg 
Wright, Leonas V. Federalsburg 
Wright, Olin B. Preston 

Wright, Leland C. Preston 

Wright, Albert (Col.) Ridgely 
Weight, Clarence (Col.^ 

Hillsboro 
Wright, Robert R. Greensboro 
Wright. William E. Preston 

Wyatt, Vaughn Collins 

Greensboro 
Young, Chris Edw. (Col.) 

Ridgely 
Zeigler. Frank D. Denton 



-342- 



BoSTEli OF E-N LISTED MeN FeOM CAROLINE CoUNTY EN- 
GAGED OH IN Preparation for the European War. 

Following is an explanation of the symbols found after some 
of the names: 

{'■'■') Dead (Ma.) Marne 

{a) was abraod (.St. M.) St. Mihiel 

(c) served in Champagne dis- (M.j Montfaucon 

trict (C. T.) Chateau Thierry 

(V) Verdun (N.) Navy 

(M. A.) Aleuse-Argonne (O. A.) Oise Aisne 

(reg.) regular (H. A.) Haute Alsace 

(Arg.) Argonne forest For lack of information some 
(B. W.) Belleau Woods titles are omitted. 

Anderson, Eugene (a) Denton 

Adams, Howard J Federalsburg 

Beall, Arthur C. (N.) Denton 

Bennington, Robert L Ridgely 

Blades, L. J. K Preston 

Blades, Capt. Webster, U. S. Navy Preston 

Blake, Cecil Denton 

Booker, Byron Goldsboro 

Breeding, Capt. Earl G., .Medical Corps Federalsburg 

Brownell, Ralph L Denton 

Benson, Charles E. ( .\.) Preston 

Carroll, John Russell Federalsburg 

Bunting, Chaplain John J Ridgely 

Brooks, 1st Lieut. F. T Federalsburg 

Brower, 1st Lieut. C. C. (a) Federalsburg 

Butler, Raymond L Denton 

Closson, Sargt. Eldon H. (C) (M A) (0-A) Federalsburg 

Coulbourne. Carl N. (a) (V) (M-A) Hobbs 

Curz, Walter R. (a) Federalsburg 

Cox, 2nd Lieut. Jerome (a) Preston 

Cairoll, Sargt. J. Russell (a) Federalsburg 

Closson. Corp. Orland C. (a) Federalsburg 

Clark, Pierce Greensboro 

Clough. Stephen (a) (reg.) Greensboro 

Cortelyou. Clifford (a) Goldsboro 

Cortelyou, Wilbur ( a ) Goldsboro 

Dill, Norman H. Denton 

Deakyne, 1st Lieut. Luther S. (a) Denton 

Dulin, Virginia (a) (nurse) Preston 

Dulin, Carleton ( * ) Preston 

Davis, William Ridgely 

Been, Sargt. Albert S. (a) Preston 

Darling, John (a) (A) (Arg.) (V) Preston 

Duvall, Robert (a) Preston 

Deen, Norman (a) Federalsburg 

Downes, 1st Lieut. J. R., Medical Corps Preston 

Davis, Leon (a) (M. A.) (H. A.) Federalsburg 

Deen, Levin (a) Federalsburg 

Drum, James (a) Federalsburg 

Davis. Henrv (a) (*) (B. W.) Federalsburg 

Dukes, Sargt. Louis R. (a) (H. M.) (V) Denton 

Davis, Capt. Dudley W Ridgely 

Evans, Raymond E Greensboro 

Eddington, Sargt. John R. (a) Federalsburg 

Elderdice, Sargt. James R. (a) Federalsburg 

Edwards, Thomas (N) Preston 

—343— 



Fisher, Major Roland P. (a) Denton 

Pooks, Herbert C. (a) Preston 

Fountain, Herbert Ridgely 

Garej-, Sargt. William Denton 

France, 1st Lieut. G. H. (a) Federalsburg 

Fountain, Sargt. 'Mag. Sydney (a) Ridgely 

Fountain. Sargt. Charles Ridgely 

Fowler, William ( a ) Greensboro 

Fields, Daniel, Jr. (a) (*) Federalsburg 

Gray, William J Goldsboro 

Gadow, Carl W. (a) (M. A.) Preston 

Green, Capt. J. Woodall (a) Denton 

Griffith, Clarence Greensboro 

Harper, Corp. Floyd H. ( * ) Federalsburg 

Henry, Mitchell F Goldsboro 

Hunt, Corp. Ralph ( a ) Federalsburg 

Holleck, Jerry C. (a) Preston 

Holmes, Luther B Denton 

Hutson, Covp. Alfred Greensboro 

Hurlock, Hosuton (a) Federalsburg 

Jefferson, Saigt. Donald E. (a) Federalsburg 

Johns, Alfred Thomas (col.) (a) Preston 

Jarman, Christopher Ridgely 

Jeavons, Allen Federalsburg 

Johnson, Corp. J. Arthur (a) Federalsburg 

Jones, Xoble ( a ) Greensboro 

Jarman, Clayton ( a ) Greensboro 

Klotz, William ( a ) Ridgelv 

Kabelka, Otto (a) (.VI. A.) (St. M. ) Henderson 

Keehan. Howard (a) (Arg.) (B. W. ) (A. M.) Ridgely 

Kelley, Elmert T Preston 

Kornrumpf, James A Greensboro 

Lednum, Ralph C Preston 

Ludwig, J. Henry ( * ) ( N ) Ridgely 

Lynch, Lee Henry Ridgely 

Long, James D Denton 

Lankford, Corp. Claude (a) Preston 

Lord, George (a) Federalsburg 

Lane, Irvin (aviation) Ridgely 

Medford, Corp. Frank P. (a) Marydel 

Medford, Lieut. Wm. Tyler (a) Marydel 

Mowbray, Alderson Federalsburg 

Madera, Maj. Dr. J. C. (reg.) Ridgely 

Morris, Capt. Irvin (reg.) Preston 

Miller, Bugler Joseph (a) Federalsburg 

McConnell, Corp. Vaughn (a) (Toule Sector) Preston 

McL'onnell, Corp. Pnilip (a) (C) (Ma.) (A. M.) Preston 

Merriken, 2nd Lieut. Wilbur (a) Federalsburg 

.Mowbray, 2nd Lieut. C. Brown ('■' ) (a) Federalsburg 

Meredith, Sargt. Alvin (*) (a) (C, T.) Federalsburg 

Meredith, Leslie (a) Henderson 

Magnus, William (a) Greensboro 

Neal, William H Preston 

Nichols, Sargt. Winfield T. (a) (A) (C) (St. -M.) ( Arg.) ... Denton 

Noble, Maj. John W. (a) Preston 

Noble, Capt. Houston (marine) (a) (arg) Federalsburg 

Noble, Corp. Robert K. (a) (Houte) (A) Federalsburg 

Noble, Lieut. Wm. D., Medical CorpB Preston 

Nuttle, Harold C. (a) (St. M.) (C.) (M. A.) Denton 

Neal, Corp. Francis W. (a) Federalsburg 

Noble, Brig. Gen. Robert H. (a) (reg) (arg) Federalsburg 

—344— 



Novak. Roland (a) Federalsburg 

Perry, Joseph H. ( * ) Ridgely 

Pells. James N Denton 

Plumnier, Charles Denton 

Pearsaul, Edward (N) Ridgely 

Pinder, Frank Greensboro 

Pippin, Lieut. Noble Henderson 

Poore, Lielit. Goodwin (a) Greensboro 

Poore, Byron (a) Greensboro 

Pritchett. Lorain (a) Henderson 

Rice, Robert J. (a) (Ma) Denton 

Ring, Frank J Federalsburg 

Ricketts, Loyd (a ) Federalsburg 

Ross, Ailtrum Federalsburg 

Saulsbury, Sargt. Irvin T. (a) Ridgely 

Schlegel, Ernest F Denton 

Slacum, Louis H Federalsburg 

Smith, Walter R Greensboro 

Spence, Clarence E Denton 

Stevens. Lynne E. fa) (c) (St. M.) (Chat.) Denton 

Summertieid, Maj. J. Henry (a) (St. M.) (Arg) (V) Denton 

Sisk, Edwin K. (a) Preston 

Shepherd, Pierce (a) Federalsburg 

Sharp, Preston (*) (N) Ridgely 

Smith, Ernest (Y. M. C. A.) Ridgely 

Spence. Percy (N) Ridgely 

Smith, Alexander, Jr. (a) (Arg) (B. W.) Ridgely 

Swing, Thompson (a) Ridgely 

Schrieber, Sargt. John B. (a) Greensboro 

Trice, Clyde Denton 

Travers, Floyd (N) Greensboro 

Taylor, 1st Lieut. Dr. F. F. (a) Ridged- 
Trice, Corp. Arthur (a) Preston 

Vonwelle, Philip (*) (a) Greensboro 

Wright. Clarence Hillsboro 

White, Albert Ridgely 

"Willoughby, Richard Maurice Federalsburg 

Wright, Walter T Greensboro 

Wright, Charles P Federalsburg 

Wilson, Henry (N) Denton 

Wyatt, Sargt. William W. (aviation) Ridgely 

Wilson, Alice (nurse) Ridgely 

Waterson, David (*) (a) Greensboro 

Waterson. Joseph (a) Greensboro 

Weaver, Henry Greensboro 

Wheatley. Wilbur (a) Federalsburg 

Wheatley, Guy (a) Federalsburg 

Wright, Kemp (*) (a) Federalsburg 

Wright, Lenos (a) Federalsburg 

Williams, Perce Federalsburg 

White, Sargt. Everett (a) (V) (A. H.) Federalsburg 



-345— 



HONOR ROLL 



THE GREAT WAR 



List of Caroline County men and women tvho 

either in service or in preparation made the 

Supreme Sacrifice. 



Mary Todd 

Norman Wesley Baynard 

Henry Davis 

William Caeleton Dulin 

Norman Dyer 

Daniel Fields, Jr. 

William McKnutt Fleming 

John Gtregg 

John Wesley Harden 

James Holland 

Irwin Jopp 

Fred R. Jump 

J. Henry Ludwig 

Alvin Meredith 

Charles Brown Mowbray 

Walter Nashold 

Joseph H. Perry 

William Pusse 

Preston Sharp 

Norman Earle Smith 

Norman Thomas 

Roland Edward Todd 

Philip F. Vonville 

David Waterson 

Kemp Wright 

Vaughn C. Wyatt 



— :J46— 



THE FLOODS OF 1919. 



(.From local newspapers.) 



Not within the memory of our oldest inhabitants 
were such incessant rain storms recalled as swept our 
country in 1919. The local weather official H. B. Mason 
reported that practically a normal year's rainfall fell 
within the space of three months, with unusually heavy 
rains the remainder of the year. Some idea of the enor- 
mous loss sustained everywhere may be gathered from 
the following taken in jjart from one of the county news 
papers issued in August. 

■'Death rode the flood of Wednesday night and Thursday 
morning, one young man losing his life on account of it. The vic- 
tim was John Brown, fireman on a work train wh'ch ran into an 
unsuspected washout about a mile west of Denton about seven 
o'clock on Thursday morning. This work train was on v,a way to 
repair a cut in a road near Hobbs and was traveling at a good rate 
of speed. When the danger spot was close at hand Engineer 
Julian Bryan saw it, told the fireman, and jumped. Brown remiin-i 
ed and in a moment was killed. The engine went through the 
trestle, the tender falling on it. The caboose also left the traak 
and fell into the swollen stream. 

For months the big rains had been coming, but it was on 
Wednesday last that the floods descended — fell as they had not 
fallen for many years. The rain of Wednesday and Wednesday 
night was the heaviest, according to some of our citizens who re^ 
member well, since the celebrated downpour of June, 1862 when all 
the mill dams in the county were swept away. All agree that it 
was terrific in its volume and in the damage that was done. On 
nearly every farm in Caroline county heavy loss has been sustain- 
ed in crops injured. 

The county suffers much in the havoc wrought to reads and 
bridges in many sections. One of the greatest losses was that near 
the Boyce mill, on the road from Greensboro to Delaware. The 
roads engineer says the cost of a new bridge here will be from $6000 
to $8 000. There are many bridges damaged, some very badly, and 
there are scores of washouts along the public roads. 

The floods left the road in a bad way at Faulkner's bridge, near 
Federalsburg. In Tuckahoe Neck Pipe bridge is carried away, and 
at the Sparklin or Elben mill the road is impassable on account of 
a big cut. There is also a bad washout at Mason's bridge, on the 
headwaters of the Tuckahoe river. At Bunker Hill branch, north of 
Denton, on the west side of Choptank river, the big pipe has been 
swept away. 

The tremendous fall of water inundated a vast area in the vicin- 
ity of Adamsville. Delaware, the Marshy Hope stream, the headwat- 
ers of the Northwest Fork river being spread over many hundreds 
of acres of land under cultivation. At the point of the M. D. & V. 
railroad bridge the waters were several hundred feet wide and so 
deep over the structure and the track adjacent for a long distance 
on each side that Engineer Polk, of the road, said Thursday night 
that there was then no Immediate prospect of making repairs at the 

—847— 



point where the wreck occurred, because a wrecking train with the 
big derrick could not pass over the road. The flood would have to 
be allowed to subside. Two washouts are to be repaired, one near 
Hobbs and the other between Denton and Tuckahoe Station. Train 
service will likely be resumed on Monday. 

From 20 to 30 feet of the dam of Williston mill — that portion 
from the State road to the mill — was washed out, causing the shut- 
ting down of business and involving the owner, Mr. Willard C. Todd, 
in a considerable loss, and the manager, Mr. C. E. Abbott, in con- 
siderable trouble. 

The dam at C. C. Deen's mill, Fowling Creek, was carried away 
Wednesday evening, and there was a great flood about the mill- 
house. A thousand bushels of wheat, 500 bushels of corn and 5 
bushels of meal were overrun and badly damaged. 

Corn fields and tomato fields suffered great injury from the 
heavy wind and rains. Tomatoes especially are hurt. The prospect 
Is that the pack will be the smallest in many years. A dispatch from 
Federalsburg on Thursday said that place experienced the worst 
storm in its history. The Main street was a foot deep in water in 
some places. A number of merchants had to move stock and other 
things to save them. Boats were propelled about the streets in this 
Venice of Caroline. There was an eighty-foot washout on the Cam- 
bridge and Seaford road and passenger and freight trains were stop- 
ped. 

Owners of traction engines are warned by Engineer Waldorf 
that many of the bridges may be in unsafe condition, and caution 
should be exercised in going over them. Autos should travel slowly 
and drivers should be exceedingly careful." 



—348— 



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^OCT 89 

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